title: Canadian Quality Circle pilot project in osteoporosis: rationale, methods, and feasibility.
abstract: PROBLEM ADDRESSED Family physicians are not adequately following the 2002 Osteoporosis Canada guidelines for providing optimal care to patients with osteoporosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Canadian Quality Circle (CQC) pilot project was developed to assess the feasibility of the CQC project design and to gather information for implementing a national study of quality circles (QCs). The national study would assess whether use ofQCs could improve family physicians' adherence to the osteoporosis guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pilot project enrolled 52 family physicians and involved 7 QCs. The project had 3 phases: training and baseline data collection, educational intervention and follow-up data collection, and sessions on implementing strategies for care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from the pilot study showed that the CQC project was well designed and well received. Use of QCs appeared to be feasible for transferring knowledge and giving physicians an opportunity to analyze work-related problems and develop solutions to them.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. g.ioannidis@sympatico.ca
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ioannidis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.forename: Lehana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thabane
authors.forename: Amiram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gafni
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hodsman
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kvern
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plumley
authors.forename: Alanna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doupe
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salach
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Adachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*