Miek Smeets1, Bert Aertgeerts1, Wilfried Mullens2,3, Joris Penders4,2, Jan Vercammen3, Stefan Janssens5, Bert Vaes1,6. 1. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven (KUL) , Leuven , Belgium. 2. Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University , Diepenbeek , Belgium. 3. Department of Cardiology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL) , Genk , Belgium. 4. Department of Clinical Biology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL) , Genk , Belgium. 5. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven (KUL) , Leuven , Belgium. 6. Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) , Brussels , Belgium.
Abstract
Background: Heart failure (HF) imposes a burden for patients and health economics. General practitioners (GPs) are confronted with the broadest range of HF management. Although guidelines exist, they are not fully implemented in the Belgian health care system. Methods: We will conduct a non-randomised, non-controlled prospective observational trial (six months follow-up) to implement a multifaceted intervention in Belgian general practice to support GPs in the implementation of evidence-based HF guidelines. The multifaceted intervention consists of an audit and feedback method to detect previously unrecognised patients with HF and to increase awareness for proactive HF management, an NT-proBNP point-of-care test to improve detection and adequate diagnosis of patients with HF and a specialist HF nurse to assist GPs in the education of patients, optimisation of treatment and follow-up after hospitalisation. All patients aged 40 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of HF by their GP based on the clinical audit are eligible for participation. The main objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of this multifaceted intervention and the evolution of predefined quality indicators. We will measure the impact on HF diagnosis, medication optimisation, multidisciplinary follow-up and patients' quality of life after six months. Additionally, the experiences of GPs and investigators will be studied. Conclusions: Heart failure is an important health problem in which GPs play a key role. Therefore, we will evaluate the feasibility of a multifaceted intervention to optimise diagnosis as well as implement the guideline recommended therapies in patients with HF in general practice.
Background: Heart failure (HF) imposes a burden for patients and health economics. General practitioners (GPs) are confronted with the broadest range of HF management. Although guidelines exist, they are not fully implemented in the Belgian health care system. Methods: We will conduct a non-randomised, non-controlled prospective observational trial (six months follow-up) to implement a multifaceted intervention in Belgian general practice to support GPs in the implementation of evidence-based HF guidelines. The multifaceted intervention consists of an audit and feedback method to detect previously unrecognised patients with HF and to increase awareness for proactive HF management, an NT-proBNP point-of-care test to improve detection and adequate diagnosis of patients with HF and a specialist HF nurse to assist GPs in the education of patients, optimisation of treatment and follow-up after hospitalisation. All patients aged 40 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of HF by their GP based on the clinical audit are eligible for participation. The main objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of this multifaceted intervention and the evolution of predefined quality indicators. We will measure the impact on HF diagnosis, medication optimisation, multidisciplinary follow-up and patients' quality of life after six months. Additionally, the experiences of GPs and investigators will be studied. Conclusions: Heart failure is an important health problem in which GPs play a key role. Therefore, we will evaluate the feasibility of a multifaceted intervention to optimise diagnosis as well as implement the guideline recommended therapies in patients with HF in general practice.
Entities:
Keywords:
Heart failure; clinical audit; general practice; natriuretic peptides; nursing care
Authors: Faye Forsyth; Jonathan Mant; Clare J Taylor; Fd Richard Hobbs; Carolyn A Chew-Graham; Thomas Blakeman; Emma Sowden; Aaron Long; Muhammad Zakir Hossain; Duncan Edwards; Christi Deaton Journal: BJGP Open Date: 2019-11-26