Background
This study was designed to investigate
general practitioners’ knowledge of
absolute risk estimation, and whether
they used it to guide their management
of cardiovascular disease.
Discussion
Many GPs were using absolute risk
calculators, and most used them
appropriately as decision making tools,
not just for education or motivation.
Further education of GPs about
cardiovascular risk is still indicated.
Results
A total of 56–62% of responders correctly
answered knowledge questions, which
could be as low as 33–36% when
corrected for nonresponse bias. A
cardiovascular risk calculator was used
by 72% (as low as 42% when corrected
for nonresponse bias); of these, 93%
used them to motivate lifestyle change
and for education, and 66% used them
to assist disease management. General
practitioners who used risk calculators
tended to rate some factors more highly
as contributing to cardiovascular disease,
such as Aboriginality and diabetes.
Download the PDF for the full article.
Download article PDF