Strategies to improve compliance with evidence-based clinical management guidelines

Background: Clinical management guidelines (CMGs) have been developed to standardize physician practices and ensure safe and cost-effective patient care. In June 1996, evidence-based CMGs were initiated at our urban Level I trauma center. This study compares physician compliance with two such CMGs before (PRE) and after (POST) the institution of continuous surveillance by a clinical resource manager.

Study Design: For 2 months PRE resource manager surveillance hospital records were reviewed retrospectively for compliance with two CMGs. POST data were collected prospectively for 2 months by the resource manager, who alerted practitioners to deviance from CMGs to justify or document therapy alternatives. The CMGs studied addressed deep venous thrombosis and stress ulcer prophylaxis. “Under” or “over” therapy described that which fell short of or exceeded guidelines. Data were analyzed by chi-square; p < 0.05 defined statistical significance.

Results: Compliance with the CMGs was 48% PRE and 74% POST (p = 0.001). All noncompliant instances POST (and none PRE) were altered or justified. Deep venous thrombosis and ulcer “over” therapy was significantly higher PRE (19% versus 2%, p = 0.003; 49% versus 19%, p = 0.001), resulting in $22,760.35 in costs. There was no difference in pulmonary embolism or gastrointestinal bleed rate (1%) PRE to POST.

Conclusions: The use of a clinical resource manager empowered to monitor and coordinate physician behavior improves compliance with CMGs. Further study is warranted to validate resultant outcomes benefit, specifically cost-effectiveness and duration of the need for such a program.     

Clinical practice guidelines

Transferring results of research into clinical practice and their effective use for decisions in health care have become a major concern and are pivotal to quality improvement. Among the tools that have been developed are clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Developing reliable and valid recommendations requires a rigorous methodological approach that combines a systematic review of the results of clinical research with expert, pondered and explicit judgment. Guaranteeing applicability and implementation of these recommendations implies asking the question of how acceptable the recommendations are for the patient, the availability of the procedure and the expertise necessary in the specific context as well as identification of the organizational impact when put into action. CPG are a source of information not only for physicians but also for policy makers, insurance institutions, continued education programs and production of information for high quality decision making for patients.     

Using evidence to inform clinical practice shortly after traumatic events

Despite ongoing gaps in our knowledge, there is now considerable research evidence available to inform clinical decisions and treatment plans shortly after traumatic events. The author uses two fictional cases to illustrate an evidence‐based approach to clinical management following traumatic events. The importance of fully assessing individuals and tailoring management plans to address their specific needs optimally is highlighted by considering two distinct, but familiar types of presentation.     

Management of rectal cancer in Canada: an evidence-based comparison of clinical practice guidelines

BackgroundRectal cancer requires a multidisciplinary and multimodality treatment approach. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) provide a framework for delivering consistent, evidence-based health care. We compared provincial/territorial CPGs across Canada to identify areas of variability and evaluate their quality.MethodsWe retrieved CPGs from Canadian organizations responsible for cancer care oversight and evaluated their quality and developmental methodology using the AGREE-II instrument. Recommendations for diagnostic and staging investigations, treatment by stage, and post-treatment surveillance of stage I–III rectal cancers were abstracted and compared.ResultsWe identified 7 sets of CPGs for analysis, varying in content, presentation, quality, and year last updated. Differences were noted in locoregional staging: 4 recommended magnetic resonance imaging over endorectal ultrasonography, 2 recommended either modality, and 3 specified scenarios for one over the other. Recommendations also varied for use of staging computed tomography of the chest versus chest radiography and for surgical management and indications for transanal excision. Recommendations for neoadjuvant therapy in stage II/III disease also differed: 3 guidelines recommended long-course chemoradiation over short-course radiation therapy alone, while 3 others recommended short-course radiation in specific clinical scenarios. Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II/III disease was uniformly recommended, with variable protocols. The use of proctosigmoidoscopy and interval/duration of endoscopic post-treatment surveillance varied among guidelines.ConclusionCanadian CPGs vary in their recommendations for staging, treatment, and surveillance of rectal cancer. Some of these differences reflect areas with limited definitive evidence. Consistent guidelines with uniform implementation across provinces/territories may lead to more equitable care to patients.     

国外疼痛评估循证护理实践指南解读

从疼痛筛查、全面疼痛评估、疼痛的动态评估和再评估、评估患者及家属有关疼痛管理的知识及理念、选择患者适合的科学疼痛评估工具及疼痛评估的记录6个环节,解读国外3项疼痛评估循证护理实践指南的环节和内容,思考其对我国开展疼痛评估循证护理的启示,旨在为我国开展优质的疼痛评估循证护理提供参考。     

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy: from evidence-based medicine to clinical practice

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this article is to provide new clinical data on transurethral microwave thermotherapy, evaluate it in the perspective of evidence-based guidelines and daily practice and investigate the driving forces that determine the current position of thermotherapy for the management of benign prostatic obstruction. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have provided significant evidence regarding the efficacy, safety and durability of thermotherapy. Updated evidence-based clinical guidelines on the management of patients with benign prostatic obstruction have been made available. Surveys have evaluated the acceptance of transurethral microwave thermotherapy from the urological community. In addition, several studies have made major contributions to our knowledge of the translation of evidence to daily practice. SUMMARY: The range of therapeutic options for benign prostatic obstruction continues to widen creating the need for clarity in selection and application of these treatments. High-quality data on transurethral microwave thermotherapy have been published and integrated into clinical guidelines. Considerations on the implementation of guidelines to clinical practice, emergence of new treatments, shift of benign prostatic obstruction therapy, economics and the increasing need to treat patients with different clinical profile during the last decade seem to affect the position of transurethral microwave thermotherapy in the armamentarium of a urological centre. Into this frame, transurethral microwave thermotherapy tailored to selective cases seems to remain an attractive option.     

Clinical practice guidelines and guideline development

Multiple health care agencies have called for the increased use of clinical practice guidelines to improve health care quality. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are those developed with the least bias. The process of developing guidelines through the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons is reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of guidelines, as well as their limitations are presented. Guidelines can have a positive impact on patient care, improve physician education, and direct future clinical research.     

Utilization of incontinence clinical practice guidelines.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are evidence-based recommendations for best practice and have been developed with the assumption they will be embraced by practitioners; a further assumption is that clinical practice guidelines will improve the delivery of care. In this article, we provide a working definition of evidence-based practice, discuss the strengths and limitations of CPGs, describe the implementation of CPGs in the context of urinary incontinence, and consider the steps that the WOCN has taken to initiate evidence-based practice. Current issues are presented along with initiatives that have resulted in clinical practice guidelines on incontinence from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. On the basis of the current literature, it is concluded that clinical practice guidelines can play an important role in WOCN practice and that the implementation of guidelines may improve clinical practice. However, guidelines are only as valid as the evidence on which they are based and may not take into account gender or cultural differences or the effect that comorbid conditions can have on treatment outcomes. Finally, guidelines must follow a comprehensive approach that involves management and staff and includes education, facilitation, evaluation, feedback, and an understanding of change strategies.     

机器人肝胆胰手术操作指南

<正>微创化是肝胆胰外科发展的趋势,机器人手术系统以其先进的技术优势,为肝胆胰手术的微创化操作带来了诸多改变。目前,我国机器人肝胆胰手术尚处于起步阶段。为推动机器人肝胆胰手术的规范发展,保障医疗质量和安全,原国家卫生和计划生育委员会医疗管理服务指导中心组织国内部分肝胆