Observational studyPloS one2025
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cardiac rehabilitation and barriers to referral among cardiologists in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey.
Observational study in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Cardiac Rehabilitation in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Scoping Review with a Saudi Arabia-Focused Synthesis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Article
- Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Modern Era: Evidence, Equity, and Evolving Delivery Models Across the Cardiovascular Spectrum.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Physicians' Awareness and Knowledge of Barriers to Medication Adherence in Cardiovascular Patients and Strategies Employed in Clinical Practice in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingObservational
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective secondary prevention intervention, yet it is globally underutilized. Physicians play a key role in CR uptake by eligible patients through encouragement and referral to the program. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning CR among cardiologists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), identified barriers to patient referrals to CR programs, and proposed strategies to increase service adoption.
methodsWe conducted an observational cross-sectional study in which an online questionnaire was distributed via email to cardiologists and cardiology fellows during the Saudi Heart Association's annual conference in October 2023 and through social media platforms. Participants were required to have at least six months of clinical practice in managing patients, including those with coronary heart disease (CHD) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
resultsOf the 140 cardiologists surveyed, 106 completed more than 95% of the questionnaires. The cohort, which was primarily male (88.7%), included 67% consulting cardiologists, 15.1% fellows, and 17.9% specialists in areas such as general cardiology (29.2%), interventional cardiology (21.7%), and echocardiography (20.8%). Major barriers included a lack of local CR services (72.6%) and inadequate referral systems (41.5%). Despite the challenges and mixed views on the effectiveness of CR in KSA, attitudes toward CR were largely positive. The knowledge scores averaged 7.97, indicating a moderate to high understanding of CR services and benefits. Referral practices vary widely and are influenced by demographic and workplace factors, mainly geographic location.
conclusionsWhile cardiologists in KSA generally have reasonable knowledge of CR and its benefits, substantial barriers hinder its broader implementation. There is enthusiasm for adopting diverse CR models; thus, further research is necessary to explore and evaluate alternative CR approaches, including home-based CR and telerehabilitation, to enhance patient care.
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