Evaluation of academic detailing visits on GP knowledge and practice for statin use and management

Abstract

Dyslipidaemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is routinely managed by GPs. Lipid-modifying medicines, commonly statins, are used to treat dyslipidaemia and prevent CVD in high-risk individuals. A national education program for over 8000 Australian GPs was delivered and evaluated. The program aimed to optimise the use of statins and provide GPs with an Australian-developed statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) management algorithm supporting assessment and management of suspected SAMS. Retrospective pre-test and control questionnaires were administered to measure changes in knowledge and intended practice following the education program. A total of 226 participant GPs and 150 control GPs completed the questionnaires. The program led to positive changes in GP knowledge and intended practice around the use of absolute CVD risk to make prescribing decisions. Participant GPs demonstrated increased knowledge, compared with control GPs, about the use of CVD risk calculators as the most effective approach to lipid management, and adequately trialling a statin before considering a second agent. One of the greatest improvements in participant GP-intended practice related to the assessment and management of suspected SAMS, with participant GPs more likely to appropriately identify and manage suspected SAMS than control GPs.