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    Home > Resource hub > Improving the implementation of cardiovascular disease risk assessment in general practice

Improving the implementation of cardiovascular disease risk assessment in general practice

This project identified clear pathways for implementing the updated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk guidelines, due for release in 2023.
  • Improving the implementation of cardiovascular disease risk assessment in general practice

    Resource category:

    Findings Brief Findings Brief

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Key messages

  • Despite the availability of guidelines for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD), absolute risk (the risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years) is often not assessed or used to guide management decisions.
  • This implementation failure leads to unnecessary medication for some patients and preventable heart attacks and strokes for others. It has been estimated to cost $5.4 billion to the Australian health system.
  • Previous trials to improve CVD risk assessment in primary care have not addressed discrepancies between assessment and management guidelines, or communication challenges between general practitioners (GPs) and patients.
  • Since Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are well positioned to partner with key stakeholders to commission and coordinate new preventive services and programs we used their systems and programs to implement decision support tools to address GP and patient barriers.
  • We demonstrated the feasibility of integrating decision aids that meet GP and patient needs with clinical education software and programs, leading to 70,000 uses of the tool.
  • Our study identifies clear pathways for implementing the new CVD risk guidelines due in 2023. This requires coordination and planning with multiple stakeholders now, and adequate funding for implementation.
  • If the guidelines are not implemented consistently, there is a risk they will increase inequity between population groups, including those at higher risk such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Associated content

  • Improving communication about heart disease risk assessment in general practice using translational research strategies

    Resource category: Reports Reports
    Date 12 Sep 2022
Details

DATE 16 Sep 2022

TYPE Findings Brief

Prevention experts

  • Dr Carissa Bonner

    The University of Sydney
    Headshot of CARISSA BONNER
  • Samuel Cornell

    The University of Sydney
    Headshot of Sam Cornell

Topics

  • Primary care ,

Prevention methodologies

  • New methods and tools ,

Related projects

  • Enhancing prevention in primary health care – Phase 2

    A graphic of Australia with various places connected by swirling lines

Related resources

  • Research seminar: How can we use PHN systems to implement the revised CVD prevention guidelines?

    Resource category: Videos Videos
    Date 25 Oct 2022
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Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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Funding Partners

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre is funded by the NHMRC, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT Health, Cancer Council Australia, NSW Ministry of Health, Wellbeing SA, Tasmanian Department of Health, and VicHealth. The Australian Government also contributed through the Medical Research Future Fund. Queensland Health became a financial contributor in 2022. The Prevention Centre is administered by the Sax Institute.

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