Hosp Pract (1995). 2021 Dec 8. doi: 10.1080/21548331.2021.2016334. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Our project aimed to increase knowledge of non-invasive diagnostic modalities (including bone radiotracer scintigraphy), raise suspicion of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and improve cardiology team member’s awareness and knowledge of shared decision-making (SDM) as well as the quality of SDM communication between cardiology team members and patients.
METHODS: An online educational module and survey was developed and cardiology team members in Colorado, USA were invited to participate. This online educational module included various important topics related to ATTR-CA (e.g., the cause of ATTR-CA, endomyocardial biopsy, and non-invasive methods to diagnose ATTR-CA) and SDM (e.g., benefits of SDM, the role of SDM in the diagnosis of ATTR-CA, implementation SDM in your cardiology practice and the 3-talk model).
RESULTS: There were 34 survey respondents, over one-third of whom were cardiologists. Most respondents agreed on the importance of diagnosing ATTR-CA at the early stage, and about three-quarters of the survey takers agreed that bone scintigraphy can reliably diagnose ATTR-CA without the need for endomyocardial biopsy. Concern for increased time commitment was the leading barrier to the implementation of SDM in respondents’ clinical practice. The majority of respondents identified the correct answer regarding ATTR-CA and SDM after reading the online educational module. This improvement in scores after exposure to the online educational module was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: Baseline knowledge and awareness of various issues related to ATTR-CA was relatively low among cardiology team members. Participants’ knowledge was enhanced through our effective online educational program. Prospective educational projects focused on various methods of detecting ATTR-CA as well as other amyloid conditions in diverse clinical settings will remain important.
PMID:34879213 | DOI:10.1080/21548331.2021.2016334
