Information needs about peripheral arterial disease: Perspectives from healthcare providers, health students, and patients

Abstract

This cross-sectional study conducted an online survey with healthcare providers and students and focus groups with patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) to identify the information needs on PAD from the perspective of the three groups. Descriptive statistics were applied to closed-ended items in the survey, and open-ended responses were coded for analysis. Triangulation was conducted by comparing quantitative rankings with qualitative themes across the three participant groups to identify highlighting areas of agreement as well as distinct concerns patient education. Providers and students identified the following key topics as important for the understanding of patients: symptoms (84% of each group), complications (84% and 86%), risk factors (82% and 86%), treatments (78% and 83%), characteristics (72% and 77%), and definition of the disease (55% and 67%). Four themes emerged from the focus groups: understanding the disease, consequences and daily life impacts, treatment knowledge/uncertainty, and empowerment. These results may improve the strategies to address the information needs of patients with PAD, and future research should focus on the topics found.