Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care Practice
(1) Introduction: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the most widely used method of diagnosing peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, the uptake of ABIs has been reported to be low in primary care settings across different various healthcare settings; however, this is yet to be investigated with...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-09-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4371 |
| _version_ | 1797516194783166464 |
|---|---|
| author | Lily Y. C. Chiu Muzammil H. Syed Abdelrahman Zamzam Ori D. Rotstein Rawand Abdin Nadine Laraya Mohammad Qadura |
| author_facet | Lily Y. C. Chiu Muzammil H. Syed Abdelrahman Zamzam Ori D. Rotstein Rawand Abdin Nadine Laraya Mohammad Qadura |
| author_sort | Lily Y. C. Chiu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Introduction: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the most widely used method of diagnosing peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, the uptake of ABIs has been reported to be low in primary care settings across different various healthcare settings; however, this is yet to be investigated within the Canadian context. (2) Objective: Therefore, we sought to assess the rates of ABI usage as well as perceived barriers among primary care practitioners (PCPs) in Toronto, Canada. (3) Methods: A modified questionnaire was electronically sent to 257 PCPs in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Questions pertained to frequency, feasibility, utility, and barriers associated with ABI usage in clinical practice. Responses were collected and tallied. (4) Results: A total of 52 PCPs completed the questionnaire. 79% of PCPs did not routinely perform ABIs within their clinical practice, and 56% deemed ABI usage as unfeasible. Constraints in time and staff personnel, as well as complexity of ABI result interpretation, were cited as the major perceived barriers to ABI usage. The overwhelming majority of PCPs viewed alternative forms of diagnosis, such as a blood test for PAD, as being preferable to ABI, as such an approach would enhance diagnostic simplicity and efficiency. (5) Conclusion: ABI usage rates are poor within primary care practices in Toronto, Canada. Alternative approaches for diagnosing PAD may result in greater adoption rates among PCPs and therefore improve the identification of patients with PAD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:57:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ac75ff09eed4b3da7fec4abdaa20807 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:57:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ac75ff09eed4b3da7fec4abdaa208072023-11-22T16:18:27ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-09-011019437110.3390/jcm10194371Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care PracticeLily Y. C. Chiu0Muzammil H. Syed1Abdelrahman Zamzam2Ori D. Rotstein3Rawand Abdin4Nadine Laraya5Mohammad Qadura6Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, CanadaDivision of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, CanadaDivision of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, CanadaFamily Medicine Department, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto, ON M6R 1B5, CanadaDivision of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada(1) Introduction: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the most widely used method of diagnosing peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, the uptake of ABIs has been reported to be low in primary care settings across different various healthcare settings; however, this is yet to be investigated within the Canadian context. (2) Objective: Therefore, we sought to assess the rates of ABI usage as well as perceived barriers among primary care practitioners (PCPs) in Toronto, Canada. (3) Methods: A modified questionnaire was electronically sent to 257 PCPs in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Questions pertained to frequency, feasibility, utility, and barriers associated with ABI usage in clinical practice. Responses were collected and tallied. (4) Results: A total of 52 PCPs completed the questionnaire. 79% of PCPs did not routinely perform ABIs within their clinical practice, and 56% deemed ABI usage as unfeasible. Constraints in time and staff personnel, as well as complexity of ABI result interpretation, were cited as the major perceived barriers to ABI usage. The overwhelming majority of PCPs viewed alternative forms of diagnosis, such as a blood test for PAD, as being preferable to ABI, as such an approach would enhance diagnostic simplicity and efficiency. (5) Conclusion: ABI usage rates are poor within primary care practices in Toronto, Canada. Alternative approaches for diagnosing PAD may result in greater adoption rates among PCPs and therefore improve the identification of patients with PAD.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4371peripheral arterial disease (PAD)ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI)primary care practitioners (PCP) |
| spellingShingle | Lily Y. C. Chiu Muzammil H. Syed Abdelrahman Zamzam Ori D. Rotstein Rawand Abdin Nadine Laraya Mohammad Qadura Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care Practice Journal of Clinical Medicine peripheral arterial disease (PAD) ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) primary care practitioners (PCP) |
| title | Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care Practice |
| title_full | Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care Practice |
| title_fullStr | Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care Practice |
| title_short | Perceived Challenges to Routine Uptake of the Ankle Brachial Index within Primary Care Practice |
| title_sort | perceived challenges to routine uptake of the ankle brachial index within primary care practice |
| topic | peripheral arterial disease (PAD) ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) primary care practitioners (PCP) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4371 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lilyycchiu perceivedchallengestoroutineuptakeoftheanklebrachialindexwithinprimarycarepractice AT muzammilhsyed perceivedchallengestoroutineuptakeoftheanklebrachialindexwithinprimarycarepractice AT abdelrahmanzamzam perceivedchallengestoroutineuptakeoftheanklebrachialindexwithinprimarycarepractice AT oridrotstein perceivedchallengestoroutineuptakeoftheanklebrachialindexwithinprimarycarepractice AT rawandabdin perceivedchallengestoroutineuptakeoftheanklebrachialindexwithinprimarycarepractice AT nadinelaraya perceivedchallengestoroutineuptakeoftheanklebrachialindexwithinprimarycarepractice AT mohammadqadura perceivedchallengestoroutineuptakeoftheanklebrachialindexwithinprimarycarepractice |