Table 2 Key characteristics of included studies
No | Author (year)/country | Study design/methodological orientationa | Data collection method | Primary/secondary setting | Specific study setting | Participant characteristicsb | Sample sizec | Specific CVD/diabetes condition (if stated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CVD | ||||||||
1 | Adarkwah et al. (2016) [41]/Germany | Randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Primary | GPs | â–ª Patients from GPs who are affiliated with the Department of Primary Care at the University of Marburg â–ª 32 GPs in 28 practices included an average of 9.5 patients (ranging from 3 to 15 each) â–ª Mean age (TTE): 57.83Â years old â–ª Mean age (Emoticons): 58.01Â years old | Intervention group: 157 patients Control group: 147 patients | N.A. |
2 | Adarkwah et al. (2019) [42]/Germany | Randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Primary | GPs | â–ª Same as Adarkwah et al. (2016) [41] â–ª Mean age (TTE): 58.2Â years old â–ª Mean age (Emoticons): 58.24Â years old | Intervention group: 148 patients (analysed) Control group: 146 patients (analysed) | N.A. |
3 | Barfoed et al. (2015) [43]/Denmark | Systematic text condensation | Semi-structured interviews | Primary | GPs | ▪ GPs from the capital and southern region of Denmark ▪ 3 GPs age < 50 years old; 7 ≥ 50 years old | 10 GPs | N.A. |
4 | Bengtsson et al. (2021) [44]/Sweden | Qualitative content analysis | Semi-structured interviews | Primary | GPs | GPs practicing in Veasterbotten County, Sweden | 15 GPs | N.A. |
5 | Bonner et al. (2014) [45]/Australia | Framework analysis | Semi-structured interviews | Primary | GPs | ▪ Practising GPs from 8 divisions of General Practice in metropolitan areas of New South Wales, Australia 6 GPs aged < 40 years old, 8 between 40 and 49 years old, 7 between 50 and 59 years old, and 4 aged > 60 years old | 25 GPs | N.A. |
6 | Borg Xuereb et al. (2016) [46]/UK | Interpretative phenomenology | Semi-structured interviews | Secondary | AF Clinics | â–ª Physicians with experience managing patients with AF and have prescribed warfarin â–ª Patients from AF clinics, and physicians from primary and secondary care settings in the West Midlands, UK â–ª Patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) and who had accepted, declined or discontinued warfarin â–ª Physicians aged between 32 and 60Â years old Patients aged between 53 and 83Â years old | 11 patients 16 physicians | Atrial fibrillation |
7 | Bridgwood et al. (2020) [47]/UK | Constant comparative method | Non-participant observation/semi-structured interviews | Secondary | TIA Clinics | ▪ Consultations were observed where transient ischaemic attack (TIA) were confirmed, at 3 different outpatient clinics in the East Midlands 8 patients < 65 years old, 7 patients > 65 years old | 15 consultations with 9 stroke specialists observed 15 patients, with 12 accompanying relatives | Transient ischemic attack |
8 | Casebeer et al. (2009) [48]/USA | Controlled trial | Surveys/patient electronic records | Primary and secondary | Not stated | â–ª Patients were enrolled when they visited their physician â–ª Mean age of patients in the larger study cohort is 58Â years old | Intervention group: 355 patients Control group: 196 patients | N.A. |
9 | Durack-Brown et al. (2003) [49]/France | Not stated | Semi-structured interviews | Primary and secondary | GPs and specialist consultants | â–ª Physicians who are primary care physicians and treated hypercholesterolaemia patients regularly â–ª Patients with high cholesterol levels treated for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease â–ª Patients aged between 31 and 71Â years old | 27 patients 21 physicians | N.A. |
10 | Fisseni et al. (2008) [50]/Germany | Qualitative content analysis | Semi-structured interviews | Primary | GPs | â–ª GPs picked randomly, from the North-Rhine region â–ª Laypeople from the German Heart Foundation â–ª Aged between 23 and 78Â years old | 6 GPs 4 healthcare assistants 12 laypeople | N.A. |
11 | Goodyear-Smith et al. (2011) [51]/New Zealand | Cross-sectional survey | Surveys | Primary | Family practice | ▪ Patients attending 9 family practices in Auckland, including 2 practices with a high proportion of Maori and Pacific Islanders ▪ Mean age of patients 31–40 years old: 44 (4.7%) 41–50 years old: 199 (21.3%) 51–60 years old: 273 (29.2%) 61–70 years old: 23 (25.4%)  > 70 years old: 181 (19.4%) | 934 patients | N.A. |
12 | Hawking et al. (2019) [52]/UK | Thematic analysis | Semi-structured interviews | Primary | GPs | â–ª Low and medium CVD risk participants, identified from 6 GPs, the majority of whom were from black and ethnic minority backgrounds reflecting the Newham Borough population â–ª Aged between 40 and 64Â years old | 18 patients | N.A. |
13 | Honey et al. (2015) [53]/UK | Qualitative descriptive study | Qualitative descriptive interviews | Primary | GPs | â–ª Identified from the databases of 7 GP practices in a city in the northern UK, with a high 10-year CVD risk â–ª Aged between 40 and 74Â years old | 37 patients | N.A. |
14 | Kirby and Machen (2009) [54]/UK | Cross-sectional survey/thematic analysis | Phase 1: surveys Phase 2: focus group discussions | Primary | GPs | â–ª GPs in Hertfordshire and nationwide | Phase 1 (nationwide survey results reported only) 202 GPs recalled using Factfile (out of 600 GPs from the national sample) 181 GPs who accessed the risk calculator Phase 2: 17 GPs 4 practice nurses 1 nurse practitioner | N.A. |
15 | Krones et al. (2008) [55]/Germany | Randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Primary | Family practice | â–ª Physicians from CME groups in Hessen â–ª Patients have had their cholesterol levels measured during a period of 4Â weeks â–ª Mean age of patients (intervention group): 59.1Â years old â–ª Mean age of patients (control group): 58.6Â years old | Intervention group: 550 patients (at index consultation) 460 patients (at follow-up) Control group: 582 patients (at index consultation) 466 patients (at follow-up) | N.A. |
16 | Polak and Green (2015) [56]/UK | Constant comparative method | Semi-structured interviews | Primary and secondary | Not stated | ▪ Participants recruited and interviewed face to face in community settings, mostly in their homes, in East Anglia ▪ All participants had been offered a statin for either primary (n = 17) or secondary prevention (n = 17); over half (n = 22) currently taking statins ▪ Aged between 53 and 87 years old | 34 patientsd | N.A. |
17 | Roach et al. (2010) [57]/USA | Randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Primary | Not stated | â–ª Mean age of patients (intervention group): 57.1Â years old â–ª Mean age of patients (control group): 57.8Â years old | Intervention group: 51 patients Control group: 47 patients | N.A. |
18 | Rosal et al. (2004) [58]/USA | Constant comparative method | Focus group discussions | Primary | Not stated | â–ª Participants were recruited from a variety of primary care settings, including a university teaching hospital, community health centre, private group practice, and large group model health maintenance organisation (HMO) â–ª 3 physicians aged between 26 and 35Â years old, 7 physicians between 35 and 45Â years old | 11 physicians | N.A. |
19 | Salmasi et al. (2018) [59]/Canada | Qualitative descriptive study | Semi-structured interviews | Secondary | AF Clinics | ▪ Patients from 2 specialised AF clinics in Vancouver ▪ Physicians who have been involved in the provision of care to AF patients for at least a year ▪ Patients aged > 18 years old with atrial fibrillation (AF) | 11 clinicians 10 patients | Atrial Fibrillation |
20 | Tawfik et al. (2016) [60]/Egypt | Randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Primary | Family medicine outpatient clinic | â–ª Mean age of patients (intervention group): 56.3Â years old â–ª Mean age of patients (control group): 55.1Â years old | Intervention group: 127 patients (at allocation) 107 patients (at follow-up) Control group: 128 patients (at allocation) | N.A. |
21 | van Steenkiste et al. (2004) [61]/Netherlands | Constant comparative method | Semi-structured in-depth interviews | Primary | GPs | â–ª Study conducted in the southern part of the Netherlands â–ª GPs were asked to record 2 consultation sessions in which a CVD table was used â–ª Aged between 37 and 57Â years old | 15 GPs | N.A. |
22 | Welschen et al. (2012) [62]/Netherlandsd | Randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Primary | GPs | â–ª Patients from the Diabetes care system (DCS) in West-Friesland â–ª DCS coordinates care and provides feedback to patients and specialists, as well as promotes patient empowerment in addition to 3 monthly GP care â–ª Mean age of patients (intervention group): 58.9Â years old â–ª Mean age of patients (control group): 58.2Â years old | Intervention group: 132 patients Control group: 130 patients | N.A. |
23 | Williams et al. (2016) [63]/Indonesia | Interrupted time series | Surveys | Primary | Community health centres | â–ª 4 community health centres located in Yogyakarta, which provide free care under the National Health Insurance program | 675 patients | N.A. |
Diabetes | ||||||||
24 | Denig et al. (2014) [64]/Netherlands | Pragmatic randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Primary | GPs | â–ª Patients with Type 2 Diabetes who are managed in primary care, from 18 general practices in the north of the Netherlands â–ª Mean age of patients (Intervention Group): 61.8Â years old â–ª Mean age of patients (Control Group): 61.5Â years old | Intervention group 225 patients (at allocation) 199 (analysed for primary outcomes) Control group (usual care) 119 patients (at allocation) 107 patients (analysed for primary outcomes) | N.A. |
25 | Huang et al. (2016) [65]/USA | Pilot randomised trial | Surveys | Secondary | Clinics at a university | â–ª Patients with type 2 diabetes from 2 clinics at the University of Chicago â–ª Mean age of patients (intervention group): 74.5Â years old â–ª Mean age of patients (control group): 72.4Â years old | Intervention group 75 patients (at allocation and analysed) Control group: 25 patients (at allocation and analysed) | N.A. |
26 | Ledford (2011) [66]/USA | Grounded theory | Semi-structured interviews | Secondary | Teaching hospitals | â–ª Physicians were staff from teaching hospitals | 12 physicians | N.A. |
27 | Lyles et al. (2012) [67]/USA | Cross-sectional survey | Surveys | Primary | Not stated | ▪ Adult with type 1 or type 2 diabetes from 5 primary care clinics in Washington Patient’s age: ▪ < 50 years old: 57 patients ▪ 50–64 years old: 224 patients ▪ ≥ 65 years old: 286 patients | 569 patients | N.A. |
28 | Ritholz et al. (2017) [68]/USA | Cross-sectional survey | Surveys | Secondary | Diabetes centre | ▪ Receiving care at the Joslin Diabetes Centre in Boston ▪ Aged between 25 and 85 years old ▪ Participants with type 1 and type 2 diabetes of ≥ 2 years duration | 128 adults | N.A. |
29 | Rouyard et al. (2018) [69]/UK | Pilot randomised controlled trial | Surveys | Secondary | Surgery practice | ▪ Adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c > 7.5% measured at least once during the past year), recruited from a surgery practice in Oxford ▪ Mean age of patients (intervention group): 57.4 years old ▪ Mean age of patients (control group): 61.1 years old | Intervention group 20 patients (at allocation) 18 patients (analysed at follow-up) Control group 20 patients (at allocation) 18 patients (analysed at follow-up) | N.A. |
30 | Yao et al. (2022) [70]/China | Thematic analysis | Focus group discussions | Primary | Community health service centres | â–ª Type 2 diabetes patients from 5 community health service centres (GPs) in Guangzhou, China â–ª Average age of 57.3Â years old | 22 patients | N.A. |