The diagnosis and management of heart failure across primary-secondary care : a qualitative study.

The management of heart failure has altered greatly and good outcomes are dependent on an accurate, specific diagnosis and modern therapy. In 50% of cases, heart failure is diagnosed in hospital, with high readmission rates. There is evidence of variations in the diagnosis and management practices between specialists and hospitals, compromising uniformly high standards. In turn, this is likely to affect the quality of ongoing management in primary care. This qualitative study explores specialists’ attitudes and practices in the diagnosis and management of heart failure with a view to identifying barriers to provision of uniformly high standards of care.