Evaluating the Extent of Patient-Centred Care in a Selection of ESC Guidelines

Patient-centred care (PCC) is the cornerstone for healthcare professionals (HCP) to promote high quality care for patients with cardiovascular conditions. It is defined as 'Providing care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions'. PCC can improve patient outcomes and allow patients and HCP to manage care collaboratively using best available evidence. However, there is no clear understanding how extensively these guidelines incorporate PCC recommendations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incorporation of PCC into a selection of guidelines published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).