Are Patients and Cardiologists Speaking the Same Language?

Even after informed consent, patients' understanding of the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention differed from that of their cardiologists.

In patients with chronic stable angina, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces symptoms but does not affect mortality or risk for acute myocardial infarction (MI). Do patients understand this? Investigators at a single center surveyed 153 patients scheduled to undergo elective coronary catheterization and possible PCI to assess the patients' knowledge and expectations of PCI. Ten of 11 cardiologists who performed the procedures completed an abbreviated form of this survey, and 27 of 32 interventionalists and referring cardiologists completed a general survey assessing their beliefs about PCI for stable angina.

Forty-two percent of the patients had angina that limited their activities, 77% had positive stress test results, and 29% h…

Reviewing Author

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute