title: Exploring barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practice in psychiatry to inform health policy: a focus group based study.
abstract: This study aims to explore the obstacles to Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) experienced by Belgian Dutch-speaking psychiatrists. We used an inductive, qualitative research strategy. Thirty-nine psychiatrists participated in five focus groups organised between September 2004 and September 2006. Data-analysis was guided by a 'grounded theory approach'. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) Characteristics of evidence, including the lack of (use of) evidence and the applicability of evidence; (2) Characteristics of other partners in mental health care, including government, patients and drug companies and (3) Discipline-related barriers, including the complexity of diagnoses, the importance of the therapeutic relationship and personal experience, and the different schools of thoughts. A problem tree was developed, linking all obstacles. Although context-specific, the problem tree can assist policy makers working in health care systems with similar characteristics in formulating objectives and developing strategies that facilitate EBP in the field of psychiatric care.
authors.affiliation: Belgian Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, Belgian Branch of the Cochrane Collaboration, Kapucijnenvoer 33 blok J, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. Karin.hannes@med.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hannes
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goedhuys
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aertgeerts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011050:Policy Making; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research