PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Sarah Charman AU - Nduka Okwose AU - Gregory Maniatopoulos AU - Sara Graziadio AU - Luke Vale AU - Tamara Metzler AU - Petar Seferovic AU - Ahmet Fuat AU - Christi Deaton AU - Jonathan Mant AU - FD Richard Hobbs AU - Djordje Jakovljevic TI - Opportunities and challenges of a novel cardiac output response to stress (CORS) test to enhance diagnosis of heart failure in primary care: a qualitative study AID - 10.3399/bjgp19X703421 DP - 2019 Jun 01 TA - British Journal of General Practice PG - bjgp19X703421 VI - 69 IP - suppl 1 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/69/suppl_1/bjgp19X703421.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/69/suppl_1/bjgp19X703421.full SO - Br J Gen Pract2019 Jun 01; 69 AB - Background Primary care physicians lack access to an objective cardiac function test during diagnostic testing for suspected heart failure.Aim To determine the role of the novel Cardiac Output Response to Stress (CORS) test in the current diagnostic pathway for heart failure and the opportunities and challenges to potential implementation in primary care.Method Qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews which were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Data from the interviews were analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Fourteen healthcare professionals (six males, eight females) from primary (GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, and practice managers) and secondary care (consultant cardiologists) participated.Results Four themes relating to opportunities and challenges surrounding the implementation of the new diagnostic technology were identified. These reflected that adoption of CORS test would be an advantage to primary care but the test had barriers to implementation which include establishment of clinical utility, suitability for immobile patients, and cost implication to GP practices.Conclusion The development of a simple non-invasive clinical test to accelerate the diagnosis of heart failure in primary care maybe helpful to reduce unnecessary referrals to secondary care. The CORS test has the potential to serve this purpose however, factors such as cost-effectiveness, diagnostic accuracy, and seamless implementation in primary care have to be fully explored.