Decision-making in percutaneous coronary intervention: a survey

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Decision-Making
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Limited research exists on referring physicians' perceptions of collaboration in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) decision-making.
• This study investigates physician perceptions of involvement in PCI decisions referred to a cardiac catheterization lab.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine referring physicians' perceptions of their involvement in PCI decision-making.
• To assess whether physicians consider current collaboration levels optimal.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous survey distributed to internal medicine faculty at a major academic medical center.
• Survey assessed perceived inclusion in PCI decisions and preference for collaborative decision-making.

Main Results:

• 35% response rate (133/378).
• 89% of non-cardiologists felt PCI decisions were made solely by interventionalists.
• 92% of cardiologists discussed findings with interventionalists before PCI decisions, and 95% preferred a collaborative approach.

Conclusions:

• Both non-cardiologists and cardiologists favor involving referring physicians or non-interventional cardiologists in PCI decisions.
• Cardiologists showed greater alignment between perceived and preferred PCI decision-making processes.