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Published on: September 26, 2018

Does Your Heart Forecast help practitioner understanding and confidence with cardiovascular disease risk

Sue Wells1, Andrew Kerr, Elizabeth Broadbent

  • 1Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, PB 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. s.wells@auckland.ac.nz

Journal of Primary Health Care
|March 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A new tool effectively improved health professionals' understanding and confidence in explaining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk to patients. Further trials are needed to assess its impact on patient outcomes and lifestyle changes.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Informatics
  • Health Communication
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Explaining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and shared decision-making for risk factor modification presents challenges.
  • An electronic CVD risk visualization tool, 'Your Heart Forecast,' was developed in 2009 to aid risk communication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate if the 'Your Heart Forecast' tool enhances health professionals' ability to explain CVD risk to primary care patients.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty health professionals (GPs, practice nurses) completed pre- and post-video questionnaires.
  • Participants estimated a patient's CVD risk and evaluated a risk communication statement before and after viewing a video about the tool.
  • Self-reported understanding and confidence in explaining CVD risk were also assessed.

Main Results:

  • Initially, CVD risk estimates varied widely, with some participants incorrectly assessing the risk statement.
  • Following the video, all participants correctly estimated the CVD risk and validated the risk statement.
  • Post-intervention, participants showed a narrower range and higher self-rated understanding and confidence in explaining CVD risk.

Conclusions:

  • The tool demonstrated potential in improving health professionals' grasp of CVD risk communication.
  • A randomized controlled trial is necessary to confirm the tool's efficacy in facilitating patient discussions, enhancing patient understanding, and influencing lifestyle behaviors.
Abstract

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