Impact of a structured educational intervention on attitudes and clinical practices in heart failure among physicians in argentina

Abstract Introduction It is necessary to identify areas for improvement in the care of patients with heart failure (HF), and thus implement educational interventions to optimize the quality of care and their clinical outcomes. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes, knowledge, confidence and care pathways of patients with HF among physicians in Argentina and their subsequent changes after an educational intervention. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered survey to evaluate clinical practice patterns and attitudes/perceptions regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of HF patients in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Survey respondents were physicians from 22 centers in Argentina who participated in a comprehensive educational programme for the care of HF patients conducted between March and July 2021. The educational intervention was based on a 30-hour training programme in heart failure clinics and a final examination. Simple road maps were created to address the knowledge gaps identified in the pre-intervention phase. Results A total of 50 physicians were surveyed; the mean age was 41±8 years and 86% were cardiologists. The educational intervention significantly increased physicians' confidence in diagnosing HFpEF, with 52% feeling "confident" or "very confident" before and 84% after the intervention (p