Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Extremity Arterial Disease—A Survey among Family Medicine Trainees in Poland

Aleksandra Danieluk (), Anna Niemcunowicz-Janica, Adam Windak and Sławomir Chlabicz
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Aleksandra Danieluk: Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-054 Bialystok, Poland
Anna Niemcunowicz-Janica: Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
Adam Windak: Department of Family Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, 31-061 Krakow, Poland
Sławomir Chlabicz: Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-054 Bialystok, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: Guidelines point to the ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a non-invasive tool for the initial diagnosis of lower extremity artery disease (LEAD). Questions have been raised whether primary practices should perform ABI. An online questionnaire was distributed among family medicine trainees in two academic centers in Poland. The questionnaire aimed to establish their knowledge about LEAD management and their opinion on the usefulness of ABI measurement and other LEAD diagnostic methods in primary care. ABI measurement was found either very or moderately useful in LEAD diagnosis by 94.5% of the respondents. Among the three most important elements of LEAD management, lifestyle changes, secondary prevention of atherosclerosis and exercise treatment were chosen, respectively, by 98.6%, 83.6% and 72.6% of them. ABI was seen as a useful diagnostic method at the primary care by 74% of the participants; however, 82.2% of them do not have access to ABI measurement in their workplace. The residents have good knowledge of the diagnostic methods of LEAD and consider ABI measurement as useful in LEAD diagnosis. However, most of them do not have access to ABI measurements in their clinical practices. Future discussion and potential financial changes will be needed for the introduction of ABI measurements into Polish primary care.

Keywords: ankle-brachial index; peripheral artery disease; lower extremity artery disease; family medicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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