OBJECTIVES: To assess the perception of iron deficiency and describe the management of iron deficiency in clinical practices METHODS: Physicians were randomly selected from a professional directory. They reported in a questionnaire the estimated frequency of iron deficiency and anemia among their patients, the biological exams performed for iron deficiency diagnosis and the conditions of use of intravenous iron. The survey analysis was performed on 358 questionnaires (return rate: 12%) from physicians of different areas of expertise (anesthesia, intensive care, surgery, n=67; gynecology, obstetrics, n=122; oncology, hematology, radiotherapy, n=39; hepato-gastroenterology, internal medicine, geriatrics, rheumatology, n=130). RESULTS: Out of 86% (309/358) of the physicians reported cases of iron deficiency. For 63% of them (223/358), the frequency of anemia among their patients was more than 10%. Survey responders were 25% (89/358) to report that they systematically explored iron deficiency and 61% (217/358) only if anemia had been previously diagnosed. Severe iron deficiency, is treated with oral iron in 75% (269/358), 39% (141/358) with intravenous iron and 20% (70/358) with transfusion. For 70% of the physicians who prescribe intravenous iron (148/213) the limit threshold of hemoglobin for prescription of intravenous iron of 8 g/dL (median). In contrast with hemoglobin level, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, were infrequently performed (15% [31/213] and 5% [11/213], respectively). The use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents was reported by 44% (156/358) of physicians with systematic iron supplementation for only 47% (74/156) of them. CONCLUSIONS: One of the main results of this survey is the apparent equation between iron deficiency and anemia in many physicians. Thus, most physicians report that intravenous iron is used when hemoglobin is at a median value ≤ 8 g/dL, Therefore, iron deficiency is considered only within a context of severe anemia for many physicians.