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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 May-Jun;6(3):218-27.
doi: 10.1370/afm.854.

Absolute cardiovascular disease risk and shared decision making in primary care: a randomized controlled trial

Tanja Krones  1 , Heidemarie Keller, Andreas Sönnichsen, Eva-Maria Sadowski, Erika Baum, Karl Wegscheider, Justine Rochon, Norbert Donner-Banzhoff
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Absolute cardiovascular disease risk and shared decision making in primary care: a randomized controlled trial

Tanja Krones et al. Ann Fam Med. 2008 May-Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: We wanted to determine the effect of promoting the effective communication of absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and shared decision making through disseminating a simple decision aid for use in family practice consultations.

Methods: The study was based on a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial (phase III) with continuing medical education (CME) groups of family physicians as the unit of randomization. In the intervention arm, 44 physicians (7 CME groups) consecutively recruited 550 patients in whom cholesterol levels were measured. Forty-seven physicians in the control arm (7 CME groups) similarly included 582 patients. Four hundred sixty patients (83.6%) of the intervention arm and 466 patients (80.1%) of the control arm were seen at follow-up. Physicians attended 2 interactive CME sessions and received a booklet, a paper-based risk calculator, and individual summary sheets for each patient. Control physicians attended 1 CME-session on an alternative topic. Main outcome measures were patient satisfaction and participation after the index consultation, change in CVD risk status, and decisional regret at 6 months' follow-up.

Results: Intervention patients were significantly more satisfied with process and result (Patient Participation Scale, difference 0.80, P<.001). Decisional regret was significantly lower at follow-up (difference 3.39, P = .02). CVD risk decreased in both groups without a significant difference between study arms.

Conclusion: A simple transactional decision aid based on calculating absolute individual CVD risk and promoting shared decision making in CVD prevention can be disseminated through CME groups and may lead to higher patient satisfaction and involvement and less decisional regret, without negatively affecting global CVD risk.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Study flowchart—CME groups, practices, and patients. CME = continuing medical education.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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