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Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation
Published on: January 17, 2011
US family physicians' experiences with practice guidelines
M Wolff1, D J Bower, A M Marbella
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA. mwolff@mcw.edu
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.
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