The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Multicenter Study
A qualitative study of barriers to the use of statins and the implementation of coronary heart disease prevention in primary care.
Statin prescribing to prevent coronary heart disease is well below recommended levels. Studies suggest that the prescribing behaviour of doctors may be the biggest factor in the wide variation in statin prescribing in general practice. Understanding doctors' perceptions offers some insight into why variation occurs. ⋯ There are complex barriers to statin prescribing and coronary prevention in general practice, which may explain some of the variation that exists. Further studies of patients' views of statins may provide more information. More resources, improved guidance, and better dissemination of guidance may only address some of the issues.