Current opinion concerning the treatment of heart disease. Report of a postal survey among Tayside general practitioners

Abstract

Using a postal questionnaire method of investigation, the views of Tayside general practitioners were examined with respect to the management of three hypothetical patients with ischaemic heart disease. In the case of a man showing symptoms suggestive of infarction, hospital care was preferred by the majority of doctors. Of three categories of employment, the person in a manual occupation would be advised by most doctors to change his job after a second serious infarction. The advice given to patients was orientated towards the risk factors associated with ischaemic heart disease. Such advice was general rather than specific and emphasized restriction of activities rather than return to normal life. Commonly held social stereotypes appeared to affect the advice which practitioners said they would offer. The implications of these findings are discussed.