Factors affecting healthcare provider referral to heart function clinics: A mixed-methods study

Background: Heart failure (HF) care providers are gatekeepers for patients to appropriately access life-saving HF clinics.

Objective: To investigate referring providers’ perceptions regarding referral to HF clinics, including the impact of provider specialty and the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Methods: An exploratory, sequential design was used in this mixed-methods study. For the qualitative stage, semi-structured interviews were performed with a purposive sample of HF providers eligible to refer (e.g., nurse-practitioners, cardiologists, internists, primary care and emergency medicine physicians) in Ontario. Interviews were conducted via Teams. Transcripts were analyzed concurrently by two researchers independently using NVivo, using a deductive-thematic approach. Then a cross-sectional survey of similar providers across Canada was undertaken via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), using an adapted version of the Provider Attitudes Toward Cardiac Rehabilitation and Referral (PACRR) scale.

Results: Saturation was achieved upon interviewing seven providers. Four themes arose: knowledge about clinics and their characteristics, providers’ clinical expertise, communication and relationship with their patients, as well as clinic referral process and care continuity. Seventy-three providers completed the survey. The major negative factors affecting referral were: skepticism regarding clinic benefit (4.1±0.9/5), a bad patient experience and believing they are better equipped to manage the patient (both 3.9). Cardiologists more strongly endorsed clarity of referral criteria, referral as normative and within-practice referral supports as supporting appropriate referral vs. other professionals (ps<.02), among other differences. One-third (n=13) reported the pandemic impacted their referral practices (e.g., limits to in-person care, patient concerns).

Conclusion: While there are some legitimate barriers to appropriate clinic referral, greater provider education and support could facilitate optimal patient access.