AIMS: This study investigated knowledge and perception of guidelines in secondary prevention of @entity301 and the impact of guideline knowledge on treatment practices in coronary @entity1 among primary care physicians. DESIGN AND METHODS: A representative questionnaire survey was performed in 2002-2003 among all 1023 general practitioners and office-based internists in the Region of M  nster, Germany. The survey instrument contained questions on knowledge and attitudes toward guidelines, risk factors and treatment practices in secondary prevention of @entity301 . RESULTS: In total, 681 (66.6%) physicians participated. Seventy percent of physicians reported knowledge of at least one guideline. @entity1 expressed mainly positive attitudes toward guidelines but also reported important barriers to their implementation such as lack of reimbursement. Only 63 and 32%, respectively, reported to start antihypertensive and lipid-lowering treatment according to guidelines. Physicians reporting guideline knowledge were more likely to initiate lipid-lowering treatment of elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- @entity165 [odds ratio (OR) 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-3.5], to intensively advise overweight @entity1 (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.0-2.5), to make use of @entity1239 replacement therapy or cessation courses in smoking @entity1 (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.4), and to comply with an overall measure of guideline adherence (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1-2.8). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, guideline knowledge led to improved @entity65 factor treatment among GPs and internists. Many physicians, however, do not treat coronary @entity1 according to evidence-based guidelines. Further dissemination of guidelines and educational efforts are essential to improve secondary prevention of @entity301 .

Knowledge and perception of guidelines and secondary prevention of XXXX among general practitioners and internists. Results from a physician survey in Germany.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'Participants'] @entity301 :: ('MESH:D003327', 'Disease') :: ['coronary heart disease'] @entity1239 :: ('MESH:D009538', 'Chemical') :: ['nicotine'] @entity65 :: ('MESH:D002318', 'Disease') :: ['cardiovascular risk'] @entity165 :: ('MESH:D002784', 'Chemical') :: ['cholesterol']
@entity301 :: (MESH:D003327,Disease) :: ['coronary heart disease']
