AWARENESS OF THE EUROPEAN GROUP ON GRAVES' ORBITOPATHY (EUGOGO) GUIDELINES AND THEIR PRACTICAL USAGE IN CROATIA: AN EUGOGO PILOT STUDY.

Abstract

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the awareness and practical usage of the European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) Guidelines in Croatia, in view of a possible EUGOGO survey on a larger scale. A 27-question anonymous online questionnaire survey was administered. It included questions regarding EUGOGO activities (usage of proposed assessment tools while diagnosing Graves' orbitopathy (GO) and algorithms while treating GO), besides sociodemographic data. The questionnaire was administered to endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, and nuclear medicine specialists whose e-mail addresses were available in the published records of national scientific societies. Collected data were processed and statistical analyses performed in Base SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina, USA). Endocrinologists had the best response rate to the questionnaire. Ophthalmologists and the youngest responders (age 25-35) displayed the best usage and knowledge of the EUGOGO Clinical Evaluation Atlas and Guidelines. Responders who attended international meetings regularly and those in higher levels of health care used the Guidelines more often in clinical practice. This online survey proved to be a useful tool for obtaining data rapidly and inexpensively. It provided clear figures concerning the awareness and practical usage of the EUGOGO Guidelines in Croatia, thus it can represent the basis for larger EUGOGO survey.