Physician cardiovascular disease risk factor management: practice analysis in Japan versus the USA.

Background: There is a 42% lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) death rate in Japan compared with the USA. Do physicians report differences in practice management of CVD risk factors in the two countries that might contribute to this difference?

Aims: CVD risk factor management reported by Japanese versus US primary care physicians was studied.

Methods: We undertook a descriptive study.

Physician cardiovascular disease risk factor management: practices in France vs the United States.

Cardiovascular risk factor management by French vs US primary care physicians was studied. A survey was conducted that found that French physicians spend >20 minutes while US physicians spend five to 10 minutes (P<.001) addressing cardiovascular risk with patients.

Changing physician practice behavior to measure and improve clinical outcomes.

Physician practice behavior often produces poor clinical outcomes in the management of cardiovascular disease risk factors in spite of effective treatments and guidelines. The behavior of 165 physicians in 2 settings (suburban and urban) was studied. After collecting baseline clinical data, including systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, a series of interventions was conducted, including academic detailing.