Effect of a Simple Educational Program for Physicians on Adherence to Secondary Prevention Measures After Discharge Following Acute Coronary Syndrome. The CAM Project

• Published in: Revista española de cardiologia 2004-11, Vol.57 (11), p.1017-1028
• Main Authors: Muñiz García, Javier, Gómez Doblas, Juan J., Santiago Pérez, María I., de Teresa Galván, Eduardo, Cruz Fernández, José M., Castro Beiras, Alfonso
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: ACE inhibitors; acetylsalicylic acid; acute myocardial infarction; Aged; AMI; Angina inestable; angiotensin-conversion enzyme inhibitors; ASA; beta-blockers; Cardiovascular Agents - therapeutic use; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Artery Disease - drug therapy; Coronary Artery Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Disease - drug therapy; Coronary Disease - prevention & control; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cumplimiento de guías clínicas; Education, Medical - methods; ejection fraction; Female; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Indicadores de calidad; Infarto de miocardio; LDL; low-density lipoproteins; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial infarction; Patient Discharge; Physicians; Program Evaluation; Quality indicators; Risk Factors; Unstable angina
• ISSN: 1885-5857; 0300-8932; 1885-5857
• DOI: 10.1016/S1885-5857(06)60187-4

Adherence to established guidelines for patients discharged from the hospital after acute coronary syndrome is known to be suboptimal. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a program for physicians centered on the treatment of acute coronary syndrome. 39 hospitals participated. Intervention: a set of measures was developed by consensus for the creation and distribution of educational materials. Outcomes of interest: proportion of patients in whom ejection fraction and residual ischemia were evaluated, treatment at discharge, and health and dietary recommendations to patients (smoking, diet, exercise, etc.) referred to all patients in whom these measures or treatments should have been used (“ideal patients”). Changes were assessed with four cross-sectional surveys. A total of 1157, 1162, 1149, and 1158 patients were included. There were no relevant differences between these groups in baseline characteristics. In general, there was improvement in all variables between the first and the last survey. The proportion of patients who were weighed and measured increased (from 33.5% to 53.4%; P