Educational implementation programme of guidelines on cardiovascular risk factors: an analysis of changes in familiarity, use and attitudes

Aim To explore changes in self-reported familiarity and use of guidelines dealing with cardiovascular risks (hypertension, dyslipidemia, adult obesity and smoking cessation) and general attitudes towards clinical guidelines before and after implementation programme, as well as the association of guideline training attendance and attitudes towards and use of guidelines. Background The current care guidelines provide a useful tool in the management of cardiovascular risk factors. Evidence-based care and guideline use have a shorter tradition among nurses than among physicians. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all primary health care nurses and physicians in Päijät-Häme Health and Social Care District, an area of 210 000 inhabitants in Southern Finland, before and after the guideline implementation programme VALTIT. Findings Main outcome measures were self-reported familiarity with and use of guidelines on cardiovascular risks and items measuring attitudes towards clinical guidelines. Among nurses, the reported familiarity with all the guidelines increased, but increase in use occurred only in respect of the dyslipidemia guideline. Among nurses, there was an association between participation in guideline training and guideline use. Physicians’ reported familiarity with and use of the adult obesity guideline increased during the study period. The proportion of nurses and physicians who reported that they had been asked to use the guidelines increased. Perceptions concerning the readiness to adopt the guidelines changed positively among nurses and were more positive among those attending at least one training event. Results are encouraging regarding familiarity with guidelines. Regarding usage our results suggest that a two-year programme might not be enough to alter the deep-rooted practices and attitudes concerning lifestyle change related guidelines. The challenge lies in multi-professional implementation of guidelines on cardiovascular risks with special emphasis on lifestyle change as a treatment option.