Dissemination and implementation of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' clinical practice guidelines.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to summarize information about the dissemination and implementation of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) since their completion in 2003, and assess the effectiveness of these activities.


METHODS
The dissemination and implementation activities undertaken from 2003 to the present are described. Data regarding the dissemination of the clinician and consumer-carer versions of the CPGs are presented. The results of a series of implementation pilots are summarized.


RESULTS
Available data suggest the CPGs have been widely disseminated through both the clinician and consumer-carer communities in Australia and New Zealand, and that the consumer-carer versions in particular continue to be in high demand. Evaluation of CPG implementation pilots, using tools that assist in bringing summary evidence into clinical practice, have suggested that such tools are acceptable, are a useful aid to implementing evidence-based practice, and have a positive impact on practice. Common barriers to implementing the evidence are highlighted.


CONCLUSIONS
Summary consumer-carer versions of CPGs seem to be acceptable and useful to both consumer-carers and non-government mental health providers. Locally led implementation of CPGs using tools that summarize evidence and support its use in everyday practice has a positive impact, but also highlights system-level barriers to implementing evidence-based practice.
Codyre
David
D
ProCare Psychological Services/ProCare Primary Mental Health Programme, ProCare Health Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand. david.codyre@procare.co.nz
Wilson
Andrew
A
Begg
Juliette
J
Barton
David
D
D001315:Australia; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D009520:New Zealand; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011570:Psychiatry