Sources of knowledge transfer among primary care pediatric health care providers

The authors sought to understand which informational sources pediatric health care providers perceive as most influential in how they stay current with health care innovations.

Rochester, New York, area pediatric health care providers were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Two items pertained to the health care provider's ability to interpret primary research, and 9 items pertained to the influence and relative importance of various sources of information.

A 61% response rate was obtained. Most (83%) respondents felt adequately trained to interpret primary research, fewer (31%) felt they have the time to do so. Almost all respondents (92%) felt that American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines were a major influence, and 44% felt that AAP guidelines were the single most influential source of information in how they altered their practice over time.

In the setting of time constraints, and the volume and complexity of published therapeutic research, AAP guidelines are playing an increasing role in knowledge transfer.