OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess physician perceptions toward herpes zoster (HZ) in Puerto Rico. METHODS: Personal interviews were conducted by an independent market research firm using a structured questionnaire between March and April 2006. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 74 physicians, mainly PCPs, geriatricians and neurologists. Physicians reported that nearly 70% of their patients are 60 years or older. Of these, 6% were reported to have had HZ. Nearly 9 of 10 physicians believe that HZ is not difficult to diagnose. The lesions associated with HZ were reported to be seen mostly in the thorax (96% of respondents) and less frequently on the face and neck (69%) and the back (50%). The most common symptom expressed by their HZ patients was pain (80% of respondents) and the most common complication was post-herpetic neuralgia (77%). On average, complications were rated as 4.07 on a scale where 5 was "very serious." More than 80% of physicians reported not using guidelines to treat the condition. More than 60% of physicians reported using oral antivirals as treatment. Analgesics and anti-epileptic agents were reported to be used by 42% and 41% of the sample. Only 18% of physicians indicated that the available therapies were "extremely effective", while 65% said they were "very effective." Participants rated very high the need for a vaccine for HZ (mean = 4.35 on scale where 1 was "Totally Disagree" and 5 was "Totally Agree") and that such vaccine would be of great interest to patients (mean = 4.32). They rated very low the statements regarding HZ not being a complicated infection (mean = 1.91) and not representing a problem for older patients (mean = 1.58). CONCLUSION: There is a need for more information regarding prevention and proper management of HZ infection among physicians in Puerto Rico.