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Biomedical subjects

Jeremy Grimshaw

Publications and source records attributed to Jeremy Grimshaw.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Applying psychological theory to evidence-based clinical practice: identifying factors predictive of taking intra-oral radiographs.

This study applies psychological theory to the implementation of evidence-based clinical practice. The first objective was to see if variables from psychological frameworks (developed to understand, predict and influence behaviour) could predict an evidence-based clinical behaviour. The second objective was to develop a scientific rationale to design or choose an implementation intervention. Variables from the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Social Cognitive Theory, Self-Regulation Model, Operant Conditioning, Implementation Intentions and the Precaution Adoption Process were measured, with data collection by postal survey. The primary outcome was the number of intra-oral radiographs taken per course of treatment collected from a central fee claims database. Participants were 214 Scottish General Dental Practitioners. At the theory level, the Theory of Planned Behaviour explained 13% variance in the number of radiographs taken, Social Cognitive Theory explained 7%, Operant Conditioning explained 8%, Implementation Intentions explained 11%. Self-Regulation and Stage Theory did not predict significant variance in radiographs taken. Perceived behavioural control, action planning and risk perception explained 16% of the variance in number of radiographs taken. Knowledge did not predict the number of radiographs taken. The results suggest an intervention targeting predictive psychological variables could increase the implementation of this evidence-based practice, while influencing knowledge is unlikely to do so. Measures which predicted number of radiographs taken also predicted intention to take radiographs, and intention accounted for significant variance in behaviour (adjusted R(2)=5%: F(1,166)=10.28, p<.01), suggesting intention may be a possible proxy for behavioural data when testing an intervention prior to a service-level trial. Since psychological frameworks incorporate methodologies to measure and change component variables, taking a theory-based approach enabled the creation of a methodology that can be replicated for identifying factors predictive of clinical behaviour and for the design and choice of interventions to modify practice as new evidence emerges.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effect of enhanced feedback and brief educational reminder messages on laboratory test requesting in primary care: a cluster randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory services play an important part in screening, diagnosis, and management of patients within primary care. However, unnecessary use of laboratory tests is increasing. Our aim was to assess the effect of two interventions on the number of laboratory tests requested by primary-care physicians. METHODS: We did a cluster randomised controlled trial using a 2x2 factorial design, involving 85 primary-care practices (370 family practitioners) that request all laboratory tests from one regional centre. The interventions were quarterly feedback of practice requesting rates for nine laboratory tests, enhanced with educational messages, and brief educational reminder messages added to the test result reports for nine laboratory tests. The primary outcome was the number of targeted tests requested by primary-care practices during the 12 months of the intervention. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN06490422. FINDINGS: Practices that received either or both the enhanced feedback and the reminder messages were significantly less likely than the control group to request the targeted tests in total (enhanced feedback odds ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.94; reminder messages 0.89, 0.83-0.93). The effect of the interventions varied across the targeted tests individually, although the number of tests requested for both interventions was generally reduced. Neither intervention was consistently better than the other. INTERPRETATION: Enhanced feedback of requesting rates and brief educational reminder messages, alone and in combination, are effective strategies for reducing test requesting in primary care. Both strategies are feasible within most laboratory settings.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMed2006

A randomized trial to assess the impact of opinion leader endorsed evidence summaries on the use of secondary prevention strategies in patients with coronary artery disease: the ESP-CAD trial protocol [NCT00175240].

BACKGROUND: Although numerous therapies have been shown to be beneficial in the prevention of myocardial infarction and/or death in patients with coronary disease, these therapies are under-used and this gap contributes to sub-optimal patient outcomes. To increase the uptake of proven efficacious therapies in patients with coronary disease, we designed a multifaceted quality improvement intervention employing patient-specific reminders delivered at the point-of-care, with one-page treatment guidelines endorsed by local opinion leaders ("Local Opinion Leader Statement"). This trial is designed to evaluate the impact of these Local Opinion Leader Statements on the practices of primary care physicians caring for patients with coronary disease. In order to isolate the effects of the messenger (the local opinion leader) from the message, we will also test an identical quality improvement intervention that is not signed by a local opinion leader ("Unsigned Evidence Statement") in this trial. METHODS: Randomized trial testing three different interventions in patients with coronary disease: (1) usual care versus (2) Local Opinion Leader Statement versus (3) Unsigned Evidence Statement. Patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease after cardiac catheterization (but without acute coronary syndromes) will be randomly allocated to one of the three interventions by cluster randomization (at the level of their primary care physician), if they are not on optimal statin therapy at baseline. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients demonstrating improvement in their statin management in the first six months post-catheterization. Secondary outcomes include examinations of the use of ACE inhibitors, anti-platelet agents, beta-blockers, non-statin lipid lowering drugs, and provision of smoking cessation advice in the first six months post-catheterization in the three treatment arms. Although randomization will be clustered at the level of the primary care physician, the design effect is anticipated to be negligible and the unit of analysis will be the patient. DISCUSSION: If either the Local Opinion Leader Statement or the Unsigned Evidence Statement improves secondary prevention in patients with coronary disease, they can be easily modified and applied in other communities and for other target conditions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Toward evidence-based quality improvement. Evidence (and its limitations) of the effectiveness of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies 1966-1998.

OBJECTIVES: To determine effectiveness and costs of different guideline dissemination and implementation strategies. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (1966 to 1998), HEALTHSTAR (1975 to 1998), Cochrane Controlled Trial Register (4th edn 1998), EMBASE (1980 to 1998), SIGLE (1980 to 1988), and the specialized register of the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care group. REVIEW METHODS INCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized-controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before and after studies, and interrupted time series evaluating guideline dissemination and implementation strategies targeting medically qualified health care professionals that reported objective measures of provider behavior and/or patient outcome. Two reviewers independently abstracted data on the methodologic quality of the studies, characteristics of study setting, participants, targeted behaviors, and interventions. We derived single estimates of dichotomous process variables (e.g., proportion of patients receiving appropriate treatment) for each study comparison and reported the median and range of effect sizes observed by study group and other quality criteria. RESULTS: We included 309 comparisons derived from 235 studies. The overall quality of the studies was poor. Seventy-three percent of comparisons evaluated multifaceted interventions. Overall, the majority of comparisons (86.6%) observed improvements in care; for example, the median absolute improvement in performance across interventions ranged from 14.1% in 14 cluster-randomized comparisons of reminders, 8.1% in 4 cluster-randomized comparisons of dissemination of educational materials, 7.0% in 5 cluster-randomized comparisons of audit and feedback, and 6.0% in 13 cluster-randomized comparisons of multifaceted interventions involving educational outreach. We found no relationship between the number of components and the effects of multifaceted interventions. Only 29.4% of comparisons reported any economic data. CONCLUSIONS: Current guideline dissemination and implementation strategies can lead to improvements in care within the context of rigorous evaluative studies. However, there is an imperfect evidence base to support decisions about which guideline dissemination and implementation strategies are likely to be efficient under different circumstances. Decision makers need to use considerable judgment about how best to use the limited resources they have for quality improvement activities.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗
PubMed2006

Systematic reviews and knowledge translation.

Proven effective interventions exist that would enable all countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals. However, uptake and use of these interventions in the poorest populations is at least 50% less than in the richest populations within each country. Also, we have recently shown that community effectiveness of interventions is lower for the poorest populations due to a "staircase" effect of lower coverage/access, worse diagnostic accuracy, less provider compliance and less consumer adherence. We propose an evidence-based framework for equity-oriented knowledge translation to enhance community effectiveness and health equity. This framework is represented as a cascade of steps to assess and prioritize barriers and thus choose effective knowledge translation interventions that are tailored for relevant audiences (public, patient, practitioner, policy-maker, press and private sector), as well as the evaluation, monitoring and sharing of these strategies. We have used two examples of effective interventions (insecticide-treated bednets to prevent malaria and childhood immunization) to illustrate how this framework can provide a systematic method for decision-makers to ensure the application of evidence-based knowledge in disadvantaged populations. Future work to empirically validate and evaluate the usefulness of this framework is needed. We invite researchers and implementers to use the cascade for equity-oriented knowledge translation as a guide when planning implementation strategies for proven effective interventions. We also encourage policy-makers and health-care managers to use this framework when deciding how effective interventions can be implemented in their own settings.

Developed Countries↗
PubMed2005

Theory-based identification of barriers to quality improvement: induced abortion care.

BACKGROUND: The UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published the clinical guideline, The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, to address recognized variations in care. There is little empirical evidence on factors that influence compliance with the guideline. A better understanding of such factors is needed for quality improvement initiatives. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influence compliance with two key guideline recommendations: offer of an assessment appointment within 5 days of referral, and supply of contraceptives at discharge. SETTING: Thirteen hospital gynaecology units in Scotland. METHODS: Guideline compliance was measured by a case note review. Barriers and facilitators were identified using a combination of approaches: semi-structured interviews with local gynaecologists and a survey of clinical staff. The questionnaire, based upon constructs from the Theory of Planned Behaviour, measured behavioural intention, attitude, subjective norm (perceived social pressure), and perceived behavioural control. RESULTS: Of 507 cases reviewed, median unit compliance was 46% for the assessment appointment and 59% for contraceptive supplies. Questionnaires were returned by 151 (74%) of 205 staff in 12 units. The interviews and open-ended questions highlighted organizational barriers to guideline implementation. Staff generally had strong intentions and positive attitudes to follow both recommendations. For the assessment appointment, perceived behavioural control was low. The Theory of Planned Behaviour accounted for 27% of the variation in intentions, with subjective norm being the strongest predictor. Intention and perceived behavioural control best explained unit compliance, together explaining 15% of the variation. For contraceptive supplies, the theory accounted for 34% of the variation in intentions, with perceived behavioural control being the strongest predictor. CONCLUSION: Clinical staff were highly motivated to implement the guideline but hindered by organizational constraints. Quality improvement initiatives need to target organizational barriers as well as individual professionals.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2005

Changing the behavior of healthcare professionals: the use of theory in promoting the uptake of research findings.

OBJECTIVE: The uptake of research findings into routine health care is a haphazard and unpredictable process. The usefulness of the results of implementation studies is limited, due in part to the lack of an underlying framework of the important dimensions of research studies in this area and the healthcare settings within which they are conducted and may subsequently be used. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We explore the role for a theory-based framework and suggest some of the methods that would be needed to operationalize the framework in the context of designing and conducting interventions aimed at improving the use of research findings by individual healthcare professionals or teams. CONCLUSIONS: This research offers a framework for those who would seek to use the results of such studies in routine healthcare settings.

Diffusion of Innovation↗
PubMed2005

[Effectiveness of a multifactorial strategy for implementing clinical guidelines on unstable angina: cluster randomized trial].

UNLABELLED: INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES. Clinical practice in unstable angina is not always based on best evidence. Guidelines have the potential to improve quality of health care. There are no randomised trials assessing implementation strategies in the public healthcare system of Spain yet. OBJECTIVE: to compare the effectiveness of a multifaceted strategy (interactive educational meetings, local consensus process) for guideline implementation in unstable angina, with a passive dissemination strategy. Patients and method. SETTING: 10 wards from 3 university hospitals in Sevilla. PARTICIPANTS: 153 specialists (cardiologists, internists) and their patients admitted for an unstable angina episode. DESIGN: a pragmatic, before and after cluster randomized controlled trial. Intervention was delivered from January to April 1998. Retrospective data collection took place in July 1999, of those pre and post-intervention episodes attended from January to October 1997 and from September 1998 to June 1999, respectively. OUTCOMES: compliance with the guideline recommendations for coronary angiography and stress testing, and ejection fraction assessment. RESULTS: The multifaceted strategy compared with the passive one, was associated with an absolute improvement in the appropriateness of use of coronary angiography and stress testing of 11% (95% CI, 0.85-21.1), P=.03. There was no association for the assessment of the ejection fraction: absolute improvement of 1.1% (95% CI, --15.9 to 18.1), P=.88. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that a combination of interactive educational meetings and local consensus process delivered to wards of physicians may improve the appropriateness of use of coronary angiography and stress testing.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Guiding the design and selection of interventions to influence the implementation of evidence-based practice: an experimental simulation of a complex intervention trial.

A consistent finding in health services research is the report of uneven uptake of research findings. Implementation trials have a variable record of success in effectively influencing clinicians' behaviour. A more systematic approach may be to conduct Intervention Modelling Experiments before service-level trials, examining intervention effects on 'interim endpoints' representing clinical behaviour, derived from empirically supported psychological theories. The objectives were to: (1) Design Intervention Modelling Experiments by backward engineering a 'real-world' randomised controlled trial (NEXUS); (2) examine the applicability of psychological theories to clinical decision-making; (3) explore whether psychological theories can illuminate how interventions achieve their effects. A 2 x 2 factorial randomised controlled trial was designed with pre- and post-intervention data collection by postal questionnaire surveys. The first survey was used to generate feedback data and the interventions were delivered in the second survey. General medical practitioners (GPs) in England and Scotland participated. First survey respondents were randomised twice to receive or not audit and feedback and educational reminder messages. The main outcome measures included behavioural intention (general plan to refer for lumbar X-rays) and simulated behaviour (specific, scenario-based, decisions to refer for lumbar X-ray). Predictors were attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control (theory of planned behaviour), self-efficacy (social cognitive theory) and decision difficulty. Both interventions significantly influenced simulated behaviour, but neither influenced behavioural intention. There were no interaction effects. All theoretically derived cognitions significantly predicted simulated behaviour. Only subjective norm was not predictive of behavioural intention. The effect of audit and feedback on simulated behaviour was mediated through perceived behavioural control. The results of this study suggest that Intervention Modelling Experiments, using psychological models to help isolate mediators of clinical decision-making, may be a means of developing more potent interventions, and selecting implementation interventions with a greater likelihood of success in a service-level randomised controlled trial.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

Applying the theory of planned behaviour to pharmacists' beliefs and intentions about the treatment of vaginal candidiasis with non-prescription medicines.

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand health professionals' attitudes and beliefs about practice and the barriers to achieving best practice. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) has been widely used to understand behaviour. In this study, TPB was used to explore the psychological variables that influence community pharmacists and the supply of non-prescription medicines. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to: (i) apply the TPB to community pharmacy behaviour; (ii) identify barriers to/facilitators of evidence-based practice; (iii) describe psychological variables and responses to written scenarios of patients presenting in community pharmacies for non-prescription antifungals for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis; and (iv) to examine the relationships between beliefs and behavioural intention. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was constructed using the TPB and disseminated to pharmacies in Grampian, Scotland. The purpose of the study was to explore community pharmacists' attitudes, beliefs and intentions about the supply of non-prescription antifungals for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. RESULTS: Of the 121 questionnaires disseminated, 76 (63%) were returned. Behavioural intention to sell antifungals to women with vulvovaginal candidiasis symptoms was strong. Attitude towards recommending these medicines was positive. However, only half of the sample responded appropriately to all four patient scenarios (n=42, 54%). Most pharmacists felt that they were able to recommend antifungals if they wished, but did not feel under social pressure to recommend them. Local doctors did not appear to be influential with respect to selling antifungals. If a customer was elderly, pregnant or if the pharmacist was uncertain of the diagnosis of candidiasis, an antifungal was less likely to be recommended. CONCLUSION: TPB provides a valid and useful summary of the key psychological variables influencing practice. There is more to pharmacy practice than the knowledge and attitudes of the pharmacist.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2004

Cluster randomized trial of an active, multifaceted information dissemination intervention based on The WHO Reproductive health library to change obstetric practices: methods and design issues [ISRCTN14055385].

BACKGROUND: Effective strategies for implementing best practices in low and middle income countries are needed. RHL is an annually updated electronic publication containing Cochrane systematic reviews, commentaries and practical recommendations on how to implement evidence-based practices. We are conducting a trial to evaluate the improvement in obstetric practices using an active dissemination strategy to promote uptake of recommendations in The WHO Reproductive Health Library (RHL). METHODS: A cluster randomized trial to improve obstetric practices in 40 hospitals in Mexico and Thailand is conducted. The trial uses a stratified random allocation based on country, size and type of hospitals. The core intervention consists of three interactive workshops delivered over a period of six months. The main outcome measures are changes in clinical practices that are recommended in RHL measured approximately a year after the first workshop. RESULTS: The design and implementation of a complex intervention using a cluster randomized trial design are presented. CONCLUSION: Designing the intervention, choosing outcome variables and implementing the protocol in two diverse settings has been a time-consuming and challenging process. We hope that sharing this experience will help others planning similar projects and improve our ability to implement change.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Implementing clinical guidelines: current evidence and future implications.

One of the most common findings from health services research is a failure to routinely translate research findings into daily practice. Previous systematic reviews of strategies to promote the uptake of research findings suffered from a range of methodologic problems that have been addressed in a more recent systematic review of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies. Changes in practitioner behavior; in the desired direction, were reported in 86% of the comparisons made. The median effect size overall was approximately 10% improvement in absolute terms. The review suggests that interventions that were previously thought to be ineffective (e.g., dissemination of educational materials) may have modest but worthwhile benefits. Also, multifaceted interventions, previously thought to be more effective than single interventions, were found to be no more effective than single interventions. Overall, there is an imperfect evidence base for decision makers to work from. Many studies had methodologic weaknesses, and reporting of this kind of research is generally poor, making the generalizability of study findings frequently uncertain. A better theoretical underpinning of studies would make this body of research more useful.

Decision Making↗
PubMed2004

Block design allowed for control of the Hawthorne effect in a randomized controlled trial of test ordering.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of balanced incomplete block designs in quality improvement research, and their capacity to control for the Hawthorne effect. METHODS: General practitioners teams were randomized into three arms and received an intervention on test ordering, relating to tests for two groups of clinical problems (A tests and B tests). In the two trials within the block design, we tried to control for the Hawthorne effect by comparing the complete intervention in both arms on either the A (arm I) or B tests (arm II); the arms acted as blind controls for each other. In the classical trial, the complete intervention on B tests (arm II) was compared with a control arm without any intervention on B tests (arm III). RESULTS: The trials with the block design yielded statistically significant changes in the numbers of A tests ordered (P=.013), but not in the numbers of B tests ordered (P=.29). In the classical design, the complete intervention reached a marginally significant change in the B tests (P=.068). The Hawthorne effect was the same for both arms of the block design. In the classical design, the effect could to some extent be attributed to the Hawthorne effect. CONCLUSION: Our block design allowed us to control for the Hawthorne effect. Suitable use of block designs may further our knowledge of nonspecific effects in quality improvement research.

Diagnostic Tests, Routine↗
PubMed2004

Comparing cost effects of two quality strategies to improve test ordering in primary care: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the costs and cost reductions of an innovative strategy aimed at improving test ordering routines of primary care physicians, compared with a traditional strategy. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized controlled trial with randomization at the local primary care physicians group level. SETTING: Primary care: local primary care physicians groups in five regions of the Netherlands with diagnostic centers. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven existing local primary care physicians groups, including 194 primary care physicians. INTERVENTION: The test ordering strategy was developed systematically, and combined feedback, education on guidelines, and quality improvement sessions in small groups. In regular quality meetings in local groups, primary care physicians discussed each others' test ordering behavior, related it to guidelines, and made individual and/or group plans for change. Thirteen groups engaged in the entire strategy (complete intervention arm), while 14 groups received feedback only (feedback arm). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Running costs, development costs, and research costs were calculated for the intervention period per primary care physician per 6 months. The mean costs of tests ordered per primary care physician per 6 months were assessed at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: The new strategy was found to cost 702.00, while the feedback strategy cost 58.00. When including running costs only, the intervention was found to cost 554.70, compared with 17.10 per primary care physician per 6 months in the feedback arm. When excluding opportunity costs for the physicians' time spent, the intervention was found to cost 92.70 per physician per 6 months in the complete intervention arm. The mean costs reduction that physicians in that arm achieved by reducing unnecessary tests was 144 larger per physician per 6 months than the physicians in the feedback arm (P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: On the basis of our findings, including the expected non-monetary benefits, we recommend further long-term effect and cost-effect studies on the implementation of the quality strategy.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗