International Exchange
Richard J Schuster, Ye Zhu, Ol
Abstract
BackgroundThere is a 42% lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) death rate in Japan compared with the USA. Do physicians report differences in practice management of CVD risk factors in the two countries that might contribute to this difference? AimsCVD risk factor management reported by Japanese versus US primary care physicians was studied. MethodsWe undertook a descriptive study. An internet-based survey was conducted with physicians from each country. A convenience sample from the Shiga Prefecture in Japan and the state of Ohio in the USA resulted in 48 Japanese and 53 US physicians completing the survey. ResultsThe survey group may not be representative of a larger sample. The survey demonstrated that 98% of responding Japanese physicians spend