Obstacles to the Utilization of Preventive Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Tools: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Cardiovascular risk prediction tools are recognized for their effectiveness in identifying, managing, and mitigating cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Despite their advantages, many primary care clinicians hesitate to adopt these systems. This study aims to comprehensively assess the barriers that hinder using cardiovascular risk prediction tools in clinical decision-making. A thorough literature search was conducted across four databases: CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, and Embase. The review focused on studies that identified obstacles to the clinical implementation of cardiovascular risk prediction algorithms. The JBI critical appraisal tool was employed to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Based on ten studies, the analysis identified three categories of barriers - primary, secondary, and tertiary - to using cardiometabolic risk prediction tools. Primary barriers included lack of information, fear, unfamiliarity, and limited resources. Secondary barriers involved time constraints, workload, patient awareness, disruptions, support, communication, and trust. The tertiary barrier highlighted was the lack of electronic health system integration. Addressing obstacles through targeted education for providers and patients and multidisciplinary support and integration could optimize workflows and adoption to enhance cardiovascular prevention and treatment.