Cryotherapy of hand warts--a questionnaire survey of 'consumers'

One-hundred and thirty (82%) of 159 patients who had been treated with cryotherapy for warts on the hands replied to a postal questionnaire. Most patients had wanted treatment for cosmetic reasons, although 35% also wanted treatment because of pain. Only 34% had used a wart paint for more than 6 weeks before referral. The long-term results of cryotherapy were poor, although 83% of patients thought they had been cured in the short-term; only 57% of patients were clear of warts after a median of 19 months' follow-up. Seventy-one per cent had defaulted from follow-up. In some cases this may have been encouraged by the dermatologists, but other reasons were pain, cost and perceived failure of treatment. Nearly 90% tolerated cryotherapy well and for 76% this was the preferred method of treatment. Fifty-nine per cent would have preferred to be treated in their local health centre and 85% would have been willing to be treated by a nurse. The results are discussed and we conclude that cryotherapy should be offered as a treatment for hand warts in most general practices.