General practitioners' use of magnetic resonance imaging: an open randomized trial comparing telephone and written requests and an open randomized controlled trial of different methods of local guideline dissemination.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact and cost-effectiveness of telephone versus written access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and of different strategies for disseminating locally produced guidelines, upon requests by general practitioners (GPs) for knee and lumbar spine investigation.


METHODS
Two sequential pragmatic open cluster-randomized trials were conducted within 39 general practices. The outcome measure in each trial was concordance of request with local guidelines. Trial 1: practices requested MRI by telephone or in writing. Trial 2: all practices received guidelines, plus either: a practice-based seminar, practice-specific audit feedback, both seminar and feedback, or neither.


RESULTS
A total of 414 requests were assessed in the two trials. Trial 1: telephone access cost pound4.86 more per request but rates of concordant requests were equivalent (65%/64%: telephone/written). Trial 2: compared to the control group, costs per practice were pound1911 higher in seminar group, pound1543 higher in feedback group and pound3578 higher for those receiving both. Concordance was greater following the intervention (74% vs 65%; P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the four study groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Method of access did not affect concordance. Written access was more cost-effective. Seminars and feedback were no more effective in modifying practice than guidelines alone, which was thus the most cost-effective option.
Robling
Mike R
MR
Department of General Practice, Llanedeyrn Health Centre, Cardiff, UK. roblingmr@cardiff.ac.uk
Houston
Helen L A
HL
Kinnersley
Paul
P
Hourihan
Margaret D
MD
Cohen
David R
DR
Hale
Janine
J
Hood
Kerry
K
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000191:economics*; D007717:Knee / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013689:Telephone