Cryotherapy of hand warts–a questionnaire survey of ‘consumers’

Summary 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.