biostudies-literatureSinha SNIA NIH HHSe8522https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2796176biostudies-literatureUnknown4(12)<h4>Background</h4>Beta-blockers reduce mortality among patients with systolic heart failure (HF), yet primary care provider prescription rates remain low.<h4>Objective</h4>To examine the association between primary care physician characteristics and both self-reported and actual prescription of beta-blockers among patients with systolic HF.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional survey with supplementary retrospective chart review.<h4>Participants</h4>Primary care providers at three New York City Veterans Affairs medical centers.<h4>Measurements</h4>MAIN OUTCOMES WERE: 1) self-reported prescribing of beta-blockers, and 2) actual prescribing of beta-blockers among HF patients. Physician HF practice patterns and confidence levels, as well as socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, were also assessed.<h4>Results</h4>Sixty-nine of 101 physicians (68%) completed the survey examining self-reported prescribing of beta-blockers. Physicians who served as inpatient ward attendings self-reported significantly higher rates of beta-blocker prescribing among their HF patients when compared with physicians who did not attend (78% vs. 58%; p = 0.002), as did physicians who were very confident in managing HF patients when compared with physicians who were not (82% vs. 68%; p = 0.009). Fifty-one of these 69 surveyed physicians (74%) were successfully matched to 287 HF patients for whom beta-blocker prescribing data was available. Physicians with greater self-reported rates of prescribing beta-blockers were significantly more likely to actually prescribe beta-blockers (p = 0.02); however, no other physician characteristics were significantly associated with actual prescribing of beta-blockers among HF patients.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Physician teaching responsibilities and confidence levels were associated with self-reported beta-blocker prescribing among their HF patients. Educational efforts focused on improving confidence levels in HF care and increasing exposure to teaching may improve beta-blocker presciption in HF patients managed in primary care.PloS oneSelf-reported and actual beta-blocker prescribing for heart failure patients: physician predictors.PMC2796176K08 AG032886-02K08 AG032886Qin ASinha SSchwartz MDRoss JSfalseSelf-reported and actual beta-blocker prescribing for heart failure patients: physician predictors.<h4>Background</h4>Beta-blockers reduce mortality among patients with systolic heart failure (HF), yet primary care provider prescription rates remain low.<h4>Objective</h4>To examine the association between primary care physician characteristics and both self-reported and actual prescription of beta-blockers among patients with systolic HF.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional survey with supplementary retrospective chart review.<h4>Participants</h4>Primary care providers at three New York City Veterans Affairs medical centers.<h4>Measurements</h4>MAIN OUTCOMES WERE: 1) self-reported prescribing of beta-blockers, and 2) actual prescribing of beta-blockers among HF patients. Physician HF practice patterns and confidence levels, as well as socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, were also assessed.<h4>Results</h4>Sixty-nine of 101 physicians (68%) completed the survey examining self-reported prescribing of beta-blockers. Physicians who served as inpatient ward attendings self-reported significantly higher rates of beta-blocker prescribing among their HF patients when compared with physicians who did not attend (78% vs. 58%; p = 0.002), as did physicians who were very confident in managing HF patients when compared with physicians who were not (82% vs. 68%; p = 0.009). Fifty-one of these 69 surveyed physicians (74%) were successfully matched to 287 HF patients for whom beta-blocker prescribing data was available. Physicians with greater self-reported rates of prescribing beta-blockers were significantly more likely to actually prescribe beta-blockers (p = 0.02); however, no other physician characteristics were significantly associated with actual prescribing of beta-blockers among HF patients.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Physician teaching responsibilities and confidence levels were associated with self-reported beta-blocker prescribing among their HF patients. Educational efforts focused on improving confidence levels in HF care and increasing exposure to teaching may improve beta-blocker presciption in HF patients managed in primary care.2009-01-01T00:00:00Z2009 Dec2021-02-20T17:55:46Z2019-03-26T23:06:32ZS-EPMC27961762004682410.1371/journal.pone.0008522