Mapping De-Implementation Strategies To Identified Determinants of Low-Value Statin Prescription for Primary CVD Prevention in Primary Care

Abstract

BackgroundDespite clear recommendations supporting healthy lifestyle promotion interventions for the primary prevention of CVD in low-risk patients, a considerable number of these people continue to receive inappropriate statin prescriptions. The present study reports on the structured process based on theory and evidence carried out for the design of de-implementation strategies to reduce the inappropriate prescription of statins and to increase the promotion of healthy lifestyles, in CVD prevention practice of primary care professionals for patients with low cardiovascular risk.MethodsA phase I formative study following a structured theory-informed process combining the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) was conducted, comprising: semi-structured interviews (n=5) with primary care professionals to delimitate and define the problem in behavioral terms; focus groups (4 groups with 21 physicians; 1 group with 6 patients) to identify the determinants of potentially inappropriate prescribing [PIP] of statins and healthy lifestyle promotion actions; mapping of behavioral change interventions operationalized as de-implementation strategies for addressing identified determinants; and consensus techniques for the prioritization of strategies based on perceived effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability.ResultsNumerous multilevel determinants of both PIP of statins and healthy lifestyle promotion embracing almost all of the TDF dimensions have been identified. Guided by the BCW established procedure, 13 potential de-implementation strategies have been mapped to identified determinants. Those assessed as potentially more feasible, acceptable and potentially effective by the professionals themselves were: 1) Information/knowledge dissemination strategies: a corporate dissemination campaign on “Abandonment of Low-Value Practices”; a Clinical Pathway for the primary prevention of CVD in low-risk patients, accompanied with audiovisual and paper-based training resources; 2) Strategies for presenting relevant information for decision-making: an audit/feedback system regarding CVD prevention practice performance indicators; and 3) Strategies for helping clinical decisions: reminders, alerts, and a decision support tool incorporated into the REGICOR CVD risk calculator in the electronic clinical record.DiscussionThe methodology established by the TDF/BWC for the design of behavior change interventions has been useful for the development of de-implementation strategies targeting the decision-making process of clinicians to favor the uptake of recommended clinical practice for CVD prevention in low-risk patients.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04022850. Registered 17 July 2019, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04022850