Abstract
BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are on the rise, and primary care physicians could facilitate the reversal of this trend through treatment and prevention strategies.AimThe aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physician lifestyle practices, CVD prevention knowledge and patient CVD counselling practices among family physicians (FPs) and family medicine (FM) trainees affiliated to FM colleges and organisations in SSA.SettingFPs and FM trainees affiliated to FM colleges and organisations in Anglophone SSA.MethodsA web-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using validated, self-administered questionnaires. Following collation of responses, the relationship between the participants’ CVD prevention knowledge, lifestyle practices and CVD counselling rates was assessed.ResultsOf the 174 participants (53% response rate), 83% were married, 51% were females and the mean age was 39.2 (standard deviation [SD] 7.6) years. Most of the participants responded accurately to the CVD prevention knowledge items, but few had accurate responses on prioritising care by 10-year risk. Most participants had less than optimal lifestyle practices except for smoking, vegetable or fruit ingestion and sleep habits. Most participants (65%) usually counselled patients on nutrition, but less frequently on weight management, exercise, smoking and alcohol. The region of practice and physicians with poor lifestyle were predictive of patient counselling rates.ConclusionTraining on patient counselling and self-awareness for CVD prevention may influence patient counselling practice. Promoting quality training on patient counselling among FPs as well as a healthy self-awareness for CVD prevention is thus needed. The complex relationship between physician lifestyle and patient counselling warrants further study.Keywordsfamily physicians; cardiovascular diseases; lifestyle counselling; sub-Saharan Africa; online survey; family medicine trainee.
Highlights
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise globally.[1]
This study comprised all Family physicians (FPs) and family medicine (FM) trainees who were practising or training in Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Their contact details were drawn from the Faculty of Family Medicine, West African College of Physicians (WACP) and the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON), the online platforms of the South African Academy of Family Physicians, South African Family Medicine Registrars and the African Primary Care and Family Medicine Education Network (PRIMAFAMED), World Organisation of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of Family Physicians/ General Practitioners (WONCA) African Region and AfriWon Renaissance
This is similar to findings from the National Study of Physician Awareness and Adherence to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Guidelines in the United States, which showed a significant level of Primary care physicians (PCPs) awareness (90%) on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) prevention guidelines.[9]
Summary
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise globally.[1] In 2012, stroke and coronary heart disease accounted for more than 31% of deaths from all causes, making them the leading cause of death worldwide.[1] In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), NCDs accounted for 13 million deaths of people under 70 years of age in 2013.1 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has not been spared in this pandemic. Cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are on the rise, and primary care physicians could facilitate the reversal of this trend through treatment and prevention strategies
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