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Promoting evidence-based medicine in general practice-the impact of academic detailing
1Monash University Department of General Practice, East Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia.
Background:
We undertook a project to promote evidence-based medicine (EBM) within a network of GPs (the Monash Division of General Practice) in Melbourne, Australia. A principal promotional strategy was to conduct practice visits ('academic detailing').
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to measure the impact of academic detailing on GP attitudes and knowledge of EBM.
Methods:
All 132 GP members of the division were invited by mail to accept a practice visit about EBM. The GPs had been randomized to one of two groups: to receive academic detailing during the study period or to be visited at a later date. The practice visit consisted of a 30- 45 minute discussion about EBM and the barriers to its practice. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were used to measure change in knowledge of and attitudes to EBM over a 3-month period in both groups.
Results And Conclusions:
Academic detailing led to a significant improvement in knowledge scores and self-perceived understanding of EBM, but had little influence on GP attitudes toward it. It is not known whether this would lead to change in clinical behaviour among GPs.