Assessment of physicians' awareness levels on nephrogenic systemic fibrosis Klinisyenlerin nefrojenik sistemik fibrozis hakkindaki farkindalik düzeyinin araştirilmasi

Aim. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) has recently defined as a systemic disorder that is identified after performing contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with renal failure. We aimed to assess the levels of awareness of physicians on the NSF with a questionnaire. Methods. It is a cross- sectional survey study among 124 physicians working in university, state, and private hospitals. Information on awareness of physicians on the association of NSF and renal dysfunction and the presumption and prevention of NSF in the presence of renal dysfunction were obtained using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Results. The awareness of physicians working in university, state and private hospitals on the novelties and prevention of NSF with performing hemodialysis, were significantly different with best and worst awareness in physicians from university and state hospitals, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion. Findings of the present study revealed fairly low level of physicians’ awareness on the NSF and revealed the necessity of physician education to improve the level of awareness on the NSF to avoid NSF and associated damages.