title: Doctors' knowledge, attitudes, and compliance with 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Singapore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is an unmet need for strategies to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Singapore. The main objective of this study was to investigate Singapore physicians' response to the 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for treatment of cholesterol and their impact on clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  This survey was conducted in two stages, qualitative and quantitative. Physicians were initially screened on the basis of an initial screener questionnaire, and eligible physicians were then included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitative (n=19) and quantitative (n=66) surveys were completed by eligible physicians from Singapore. Physicians were less familiar with the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines (35%) as compared with the Singapore Ministry of Health (MoH) lipid guidelines 2006 (49%). Of the physicians whose opinion was sought on the ACC/AHA guidelines, more than 50% disagreed with the definition of high-, moderate-, and low-intensity statin therapy; recommendation of atorvastatin 40-80 mg and rosuvastatin 20-40 mg as medications for high-intensity statin therapy; and classification of individuals who would benefit from moderate- to high-intensity statin therapy. Most physicians assumed that Asians may be intolerant to high-intensity statin therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although embracing the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines in clinical practice is expected to provide better clinical care to patients, our study revealed high reluctance by physicians, especially in the use of high-dose statins. However, ACC/AHA guidelines can be easily adopted in Asia as there is a wealth of data available for atorvastatin in primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with similar efficacy and safety profiles in the white and Asian populations.
authors.affiliation: Medical Affairs, Pfizer Pte Ltd, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sajita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setia
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Affairs, Pfizer Pte Ltd, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Selwyn Sze-Wang
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012846:Singapore; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents
keywords: CVD risk factors; LDL target levels; cardiovascular disease; cholesterol treatment; statin therapy