title: Physicians' knowledge of implantable defibrillator treatment: are we good enough?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When admitted to hospitals, patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are treated in a variety of departments. Physicians need to have basic ICD knowledge in order to provide the best possible care from implantation to the end of life. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of knowledge concerning ICD treatment among physicians active in Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Geriatrics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This cross-sectional comparative study, after stratified sampling, distributed 432 surveys in 18 hospitals with a response rate of 99.5%. As many as 349 (83%) physicians had experience with ICD patients; 288 (68%) rated their ICD knowledge to be low. According to predefined criteria, 175 (41%) physicians' scores reflected sufficient knowledge. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge between specialities. Sufficient knowledge was reached by 56 (30%) of the physicians in Internal Medicine and 20 (19%) of them in Geriatrics, whereas in Cardiology 99 (71%) reached sufficient knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is lack of basic knowledge in ICD treatment and clinical management among physicians. The majority of the respondents had prior experience in treating ICD patients. Over two-thirds of the physicians rated their knowledge to be low, while test scores revealed sufficient knowledge in only 41% of the physicians surveyed. The lack of ICD knowledge is most prominent in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, but it also extends to physicians in Cardiology departments. With an increasing number of ICD patients, it is of great importance to fill this knowledge gap as soon as possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm 182 88, Sweden.|Arrhythmia Clinic, Department of Cardiology, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm 182 88, Sweden.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kinch Westerdahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm 182 88, Sweden.|Arrhythmia Clinic, Department of Cardiology, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm 182 88, Sweden.
authors.forename: Viveka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frykman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000072096:Cardiologists / Q000523:psychology; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D000072219:Geriatricians / Q000523:psychology; D005853:Geriatrics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Arrhythmias; Clinical competence; Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; Physician awareness; Physician knowledge; Surveys and questionnaires