TABLE 1.

Semistructured interview guide to explore primary care physician views on continuity of care in cardiac patients

1. How would you describe the continuity of care that cardiac patients receive, based on your relationship with cardiac rehabilitation programs? (probes: relational, informational, management).

2. What are some of the barriers to continuity of care between primary care physicians and cardiac rehabilitation programs? (emphasize cardiac rehabilitation programs).

3. What are some of the facilitators to continuity of care between primary care physicians and cardiac rehabilitation programs?

4. What type of information do you find most helpful to receive from cardiac rehabilitation centres concerning a patient’s care/progress?

5. Of the following clinical data (as indicated on the discharge data inventory), I would like you to indicate whether you would find these values useful in your follow-up care of the patient.

6. With regard to your patient (insert patient name), what information did you receive from the cardiac rehabilitation centre? How did you use this information in your care of the patient? (probes: psychosocial issues –stress, depression, exercise adherence, medication, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, lifestyle factors [smoking, diet]).

7. If it were up to you, how would you improve the continuity of care of cardiac patients in your region?