Questionnaire on Comprehension of Adolescent Varicocele of Primary Physicians Engaged in Regional Area / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate how primary physicians examine and evaluate adolescents for varicocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire composed of 6 multiple-choice questions was randomly mailed to 800 primary physicians in Busan city and Gyeongsangnam-do. The survey consisted of demographic and varicocele practice patterns. RESULTS: A total of 147 (18.4%) of the 800 surveys were returned, with 122 (83.0%) primary physicians not routinely performing physical examinations of the genitalia of adolescent male patients. In the question on "how to assess for the presence of varicocele", 36 of the 147 (24.5%) respondents visually inspected patients, 23 (15.6%) examined the patients in the upright position and only 12 of these (8.2%) used Valsalva maneuvers. 83 (56.4%) of respondents referred patients with varicoceles to an urologist for follow up. When asked about the greatest concern in adolescent varicocele, 52 (35.4%), 43 (29.3%), 29 (19.7%) and 23 (15.6%) indicated pain, testicular growth retardation, future infertility and systematic, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Most primary physicians performed no routine physical examinations for varicoceles, despite the importance of the disease. It is suggested that efforts to educate on the importance in assessing varicocele is needed for primary physicians to understand their proper role in assessing adolescent patients with varicocele.