Realities of practice. Engaging parents and GPs in developing clinical practice guidelines.
OBJECTIVE
To integrate evidence based medicine with the experience and expectations of consumers and GPs in the development of clinical practice guidelines for acute respiratory infections (ARI) in young children.


METHODS
Focus groups and workshops were held with 21 GPs and 27 patients of young children involved in a 2 year randomised controlled trial.


RESULTS
The acceptability of the guideline development process for participants was determined. Barriers were identified which would impede clinical change, including: inadequate time; lack of knowledge; fear of patient dissatisfaction; and fear of poor health outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper details a process of guideline development that addresses the realities of general practice in Australia and the concerns of consumers. We identified potential barriers to change and integrated intervention strategies with the evidence to produce realistic clinical practice guidelines.
Wilson
E J
EJ
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra. eileen.wilson@anu.edu.au
Nasrin
D
D
Banwell
C
C
Broom
D
D
Douglas
R M
RM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005194:Family Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy