Table 1 Barriers to carrying out cardiovascular risk assessment, and possible interventions to address these
Possible barriers | Possible interventions |
|---|---|
Time-consuming procedure for the physician | - Easy-to-use tools (e.g. risk calculator for computer) - The patients or an assistant could carry out the risk assessment - Offer economic compensation |
Physician has no risk assessment tool at hand | - Provide risk assessment tool |
The patients are focused on single risk-factors, not the global picture | - Patient-information |
Physicians are not used to risk estimation, not educated to do this | - Educational outreach visit - Training |
Lack of knowledge among physicians of the relevance of global risk assessment | - Information/education (outreach visit) |
Physicians have more trust in their own clinical judgement than tables or charts | - Education (e.g. case discussions during outreach visit) |
Differences in opinion among physicians on the importance of treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia | - Use opinion-leaders and convince clinicians of the high degree of consensus in clinical guidelines |
May be uncomfortable for physicians to discuss risk-factors with patients | - Patient-information - Offer strategies on how to communicate such information with patients |