A retrospective cohort study on lifestyle habits of cardiovascular patients: how informative are medical records?

• Main Authors: Wollersheim Hub (Author), Bredie Sebastiaan JH (Author), Fouwels Annemarie J (Author), Schippers Gerard M (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2009-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1472-6963-9-59; 1472-6963
• Keywords: Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: BMC Health Services Research, Vol 9, Iss 1, p 59 (2009)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the vigilance of medical specialists as to the lifestyle of their cardiovascular outpatients by comparing lifestyle screening as registered in medical records versus a lifestyle questionnaire (LSQ), a study was carried out at the cardiovascular outpatient clinic of the university hospital of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, between June 2004 and June 2005.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For 209 patients information from medical records on lifestyle habits, physician feedback, and interventions in the past year was compared to data gathered in the last month by a self-report LSQ.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Doctors register smoking habits most consistently (90.4%), followed by alcohol use (81.8%), physical activity (50.2%), and eating habits (27.3%). Compared to the LSQ, smoking, unhealthy alcohol use, physical activity, and unhealthy eating habits are underreported in medical records by 31, 83, 54 and 97%, respectively. Feedback, advice or referral was documented in 8% for smoking, 3% for alcohol use, 12% for physical activity, and 26% for eating habits.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lifestyle is insufficiently registered or recognized by doctors providing routine care in a cardiovascular outpatient setting. Of the unhealthy lifestyle habits that are registered, few are accompanied by notes on advice or intervention. A lifestyle questionnaire facilitates screening and interventions in target patients and should therefore be incorporated in the cardiovascular setting as a routine patient intake procedure.</p>