Implementation research for 'evidence-based' guideline development by dietitians: a pilot study to test an instrument.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the quality of dietetic care, dietitians in the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU) are encouraged to develop and implement 'evidence-based' guidelines. The aim of this pilot study was to develop and test a questionnaire for implementation research to monitor the process of developing and implementing these guidelines.


METHODS
A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 15 dietitians, who have started developing an 'evidence-based' guideline. The questionnaire measures determinants of dietitians' behaviour and the presence of conditions facilitating the development of a guideline. Cronbach's alpha with a cut-off point of 0.7 was used to analyse the internal consistence between the items related to behavioural determinants. A panel of professionals such as a member of staff from the UMCU, a communication expert and project-managers ensured the completeness of the questionnaire.


RESULTS
The internal consistency was high (alpha > 0.7) between the items related to the determinants of behaviour. The questionnaire gives a structured overview of factors affecting positively or negatively the process of guideline development. Although dietitians have a positive behaviour towards guideline development, they perceived barriers related to the presence of conditions to develop a guideline.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that the applied questionnaire is appropriate for implementation research and has given a structured overview of factors that influence the development of dietetic guidelines by dietitians in the UMCU.
Wammes
B M
BM
Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Blom
C A
CA
Koelen
M
M
De Groot
S D W
SD
Remijnse-Meester
W T A
WT
Van Staveren
W A
WA
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004046:Dietetics / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires