Applying the results of a systematic review in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess how general practitioners might interpret and apply the results of a systematic review relevant to general practice.


METHODS
Cross-sectional postal survey of general practitioners in August 1997.


METHODS
51 general practitioners in the Southern Division of General Practice in Adelaide and 11 professors or heads of departments of general practice.


METHODS
Extent to which comments on the implications for practice and implications for research coincided with the evidence presented in a systematic review of antibiotics for the treatment of acute otitis media in children; and reported probability that respondents would prescribe antibiotics in three brief case scenarios.


RESULTS
There was considerable variation in the comments made by general practitioners on the implications of the review for clinical practice. After reading the review, respondents with training in critical appraisal were more likely to state that children with acute otitis media would usually recover spontaneously and reported a lower probability of prescribing antibiotics in two of the three case scenarios.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing systematic reviews is not sufficient for the results of such evidence to be translated into clinical practice. There is an association between critical appraisal skills and the application of evidence-based practice.
Doust
J A
JA
Department of General Practice, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide. jenny.doust@flinders.edu.au
Silagy
C A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013021:South Australia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents