Physician attitudes. Management of asymptomatic carotid artery murmur and transient ischemic attacks

J. F. Toole and G. Howard

We polled 582 physicians to determine what their approach would be to management of an asymptomatic murmur at the carotid bifurcation and to carotid-distribution transient ischemic attack. We discovered a great disparity in attitudes attributable to location and type of practice. However, there was no difference attributable to age, and few differences were found with respect to measures of the physician's awareness of his own health. Physicians' attitudes and practices do not necessarily parallel scientific literature or recommendations of experts in the field.