• Yingqi Xu, Candelyn Yu Pong, Charyl Jia Qi Yap, Vanessa Khoo, Nicholas Graves, Tze Tec Chong, Tjun Yip Tang, and Sze Ling Chan.
• Health Services Research Centre, Singapore Health Services, Singapore.
• Ann Acad Med Singap. 2023 Dec 28; 52 (12): 651659651-659.

IntroductionThe global burden of peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been increasing. Guidelines for PAD recommend evidence-based medical therapy (EBMT) to reduce the risks of cardiovascular events and death but the implementation of this is highly variable. This study aimed to understand the current practices regarding EBMT prescription in PAD patients and the key barriers and facilitators for implementing PAD guidelines.MethodA qualitative study was conducted in the largest tertiary hospital in Singapore from December 2021 to March 2023. The participants included healthcare professionals and in-patient pharmacists involved in the care of PAD patients, as well as patients with PAD who had undergone a lower limb angioplasty revascularisation procedure. Data were collected through in-depth, individual semi-structured interviews conducted face-to-face or remotely by a trained research assistant. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and systematically coded using data management software NVivo 12.0. The Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases (TICD) framework was used to guide the interviews and analysis.ResultsTwelve healthcare professionals (4 junior consultants, 7 senior consultants, and 1 senior in-patient pharmacist) and 4 patients were recruited. Nine themes in 7 domains emerged. Only a small proportion of doctors were aware of the relevant guidelines, and the generalisability of guidelines to patients with complicated conditions was the doctors' main concern. Other barriers included cost, frequent referrals, lack of interprofessional collaboration, not being the patients' long-term care providers, short consultation time and patients' limited medication knowledge.ConclusionFindings from this study may inform strategies for improving healthcare professionals' adherence to guidelines and patients' medication adherence.

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