Atherosclerosis knowledge of general practice residents: Diagnosis and management in primary care

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• General Practice Education
• Atherosclerosis Management

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases are a leading global cause of mortality.
• Previous research indicated general practitioner (GP) management of atherosclerosis varies by disease location.
• Assessing the knowledge of general practice residents (GPRs) is crucial for effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate GPRs' knowledge of three key atherosclerotic presentations: ischemic stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• To identify potential disparities in GPRs' understanding across these distinct clinical scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was administered to GPRs in French medical faculties.
• The survey utilized three clinical case vignettes (transient ischemic attack, stable angina, intermittent claudication) with seven questions each.
• The primary outcome measured was the proportion of GPRs correctly answering at least five questions per case.

Main Results:

• 19.9% of GPRs demonstrated adequate knowledge of transient ischemic attack (TIA) management, significantly higher than for stable angina (SA) (0.9%) and intermittent claudication (IC) (0.4%).
• While diagnosis accuracy was high for TIA (94.9%), SA (92.8%), and IC (96.2%), GPRs struggled with complementary investigations and treatment.
• A significant knowledge gap exists among GPRs concerning atherosclerosis management based on disease location.

Conclusions:

• GPRs exhibit varied knowledge levels regarding atherosclerosis, mirroring findings in experienced GPs.
• There is a clear need to enhance initial medical training and continuing medical education (CME) for general practitioners in atherosclerosis management.
• Improving GPRs' understanding of investigations and treatments for CAD, PAD, and stroke is essential for reducing cardiovascular mortality.