These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed


  • Title: US family physicians' experiences with practice guidelines.
    Author: Wolff M, Bower DJ, Marbella AM, Casanova JE.
    Journal: Fam Med; 1998 Feb; 30(2):117-21. PubMed ID: 9494802.
    Abstract:
    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.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]