US family physicians' experiences with practice guidelines. Fam Med 1998 Feb;30(2):117-21
Date
03/12/1998Pubmed ID
9494802Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0031891222 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 52 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Practice guidelines were developed to improve medical outcomes and cost-effectiveness. The experiences of family physicians, who may need to use multiple guidelines in their practices, are crucial for effective development and implementation of practice guidelines. We surveyed a national sample of US family physicians about factors that affect their adoption and use of practice guidelines.
METHODS: We mailed a structured survey to a national random sample of 400 family physician members of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
RESULTS: The response rate was 51%. Most respondents (69%) reported a positive attitude about practice guidelines, but only 44% reported using any guidelines. More younger physicians thought that guidelines could be useful tools. Most preferred guidelines that could be modified (87%) and that were no longer than two pages. Only 27% of respondents knew where to locate a guideline on a particular topic. Forty-three percent of respondents reported that it would be useful if guidelines were a component of an electronic medical record.
CONCLUSIONS: If guidelines are to be used by practicing family physicians, a generalist perspective needs to be considered in future guideline development and implementation. Younger physicians had more positive attitudes toward guidelines.
Author List
Wolff M, Bower DJ, Marbella AM, Casanova JEMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAge Factors
Asthma
Attitude of Health Personnel
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Information Services
Insurance, Health
Male
Managed Care Programs
Mass Screening
Medicaid
Medical Records
Medicare
Middle Aged
Physicians, Family
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Private Practice
Treatment Outcome
United States
