Abstract
There is a high need for nail care for elderly patients in everyday dermatology practice, but considering how busy such practices are, it is difficult to treat all patients. We conducted a survey of dermatologists’ awareness of nail care in order to obtain data for improving the present state of nail care. An e-mail questionnaire was sent to 1,000 dermatologists, and valid responses were received from 174.
Regarding the insurance score of 60 points for nail clipping without anesthesia, more than 75% of dermatologists responded that this was “unreasonably low”, and regarding care for non-pathologically growing nails, more than 20% thought it was “not a dermatologist’s job”. On the other hand, 80% of dermatologists reported that they actively treat acronyx where inflammation or granulation is found. The results of this survey show that dermatologists are proactive in treating nails with inflammation, but not cases without inflammation. In order to improve the current state of nail care, it is important to make changes with respect to various perspectives, such as medical fees, training opportunities, and educational systems.
