International Journal for Quality in Health Care 16:229-236 (2004)
International Journal for Quality in Health Care vol. 16 no. 3 © International Society for Quality in Health Care and Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved
Physicians’ views on joint treatment guidelines for primary and secondary care
1 Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen, 2 Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Objectives. Joint drug formularies and treatment guidelines have been developed to reduce problems arising at the interface between primary and secondary care. The aim is to compare the willingness of hospital specialists and general practitioners to use joint treatment guidelines, and to determine the most relevant barriers and facilitators.
Study design. A structured survey, consisting of questions about the use of guidelines and formularies in general, and possible barriers and facilitators for using a specific joint guideline. These specific guidelines concerned the treatment of hypertension, heart failure, or diabetes mellitus.
Setting and study participants. One hundred and ninety-seven general practitioners and 34 general internists and cardiologists from the north of the Netherlands.
Results. Most hospital specialists relied for their prescribing on international guidelines and agreements within their own department, while general practitioners relied more on national and regional guidelines. General practitioners were more supportive than specialists of the initiative to develop joint treatment guidelines, although both groups had concerns regarding the development process. An important barrier for specialists was that they did not perceive a need for these guidelines. As enabling factors, physicians stated that these joint guidelines can lead to harmonization between specialists and general practitioners, and that they can be useful as an educational tool.
Conclusion. Specialists are less ready to adopt joint treatment guidelines than general practitioners, indicating the need for a different approach to implement such guidelines in the two sectors.
Keywords: attitude of health personnel, continuity of patient care, drug, formularies, practice guidelines, prescriptions
Address reprint requests to P. Denig, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen, A.Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, the Netherlands. E-mail: p.denig{at}med.rug.nl
Accepted for publication December 17, 2003.
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