Canadian Quality Circle pilot project in osteoporosis: rationale, methods, and feasibility.
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.
Ioannidis
George
G
McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. g.ioannidis@sympatico.ca
Papaioannou
Alexandra
A
Thabane
Lehana
L
Gafni
Amiram
A
Hodsman
Anthony
A
Kvern
Brent
B
Johnstone
Dan
D
Plumley
Nathalie
N
Baldwin
Alanna
A
Doupe
M
M
Katz
Alan
A
Salach
Lena
L
Adachi
Jonathan D
JD
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*