Estudio cualitativo: uso de la guía para la estimación del riesgo cardiovascular global en la práctica clínica

Abstract

The Ministry of Health, through a Program called “Remediar” and with the participation of 24 Schools of Medicine, is implementing a Training Program on Rational Therapeutics in Primary Health Care intended for doctors working in the fi rst level of care. In the Course on Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk (ACVDR), the use of WHO Guidelines for the Assessment of Risk adapted for Argentina is promoted. Objective: To present the results of a qualitative study enquiring professionals who attended the course, regarding the knowledge and use of the Guidelines. Material and Method: Semi-structured deep interviews to explore dimensions such as patient-doctor relationship, the approach to people with cardiovascular disease risk and the factors involved in the process of patient care. Population: Doctors who work in Health Centers in the provinces of Catamarca and La Rioja and took the course on ACVDR. Results: Interviews took place between September and December 2013. Twenty professionals from La Rioja took the course and thirty-one from Catamarca; fi ve interviews were conducted in each province. Professionals said that the training received had an impact on clinical practice and that the use of the Guidelines simplifi es and improves the treatment of patients with risk factors, giving them security and reducing variability in clinical practice. They also stated that the use of the Guidelines makes communication easier and helps the patients to get involved in their own treatment. Conclusions: The Course has motivated professionals to use the Guidelines in their daily clinical practice. However, different shades where observed regarding the use of this tool. Along these lines, the use of the Guidelines can be encouraged or hampered by factors beyond training, among which institutional factors stand out. It would be convenient to extend the study including professionals from other provinces.