[Perceptions of heart failure diagnosis and management: comparison between clinical cardiologists and family doctors].

Objective: To compare the perceptions of heart failure (HF) diagnosis and management between clinical cardiologists (CC) and family doctors (FD) in the city of Niterói.

Methods: A qualitative questionnaire, validated by the EURO-HF study, was submitted to 54 FD and 62 CC. These professionals supplied the following information: HF diagnosis; availability of complementary tests; which tests were used more often; names, dosages and adverse effects of the medications prescribed; and which pharmaceuticals reduced mortality.