title: Physicians' preferences for asthma guidelines implementation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patient care based on asthma guidelines is cost-effective and leads to improved treatment outcomes. However, ineffective implementation strategies interfere with the use of these recommendations in clinical practice. This study investigated physicians' preferences for asthma guidelines, including content, supporting evidence, learning strategies, format, and placement in the clinical workplace.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained information through a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was distributed to physicians attending continuing medical education courses and sent to other physicians by airmail, e-mail, and facsimile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 183 physicians responded (male to female ratio, 2.3:1; mean age, 40.4±9.9 years); 89.9% of respondents were internists or pediatricians, and 51.7% were primary care physicians. Physicians preferred information that described asthma medications, classified the disease according to severity and level of control, and provided methods of evaluation/treatment/monitoring and management of acute exacerbation. The most effective strategies for encouraging the use of the guidelines were through continuing medical education and discussions with colleagues. Physicians required supporting evidence in the form of randomized controlled trials and expert consensus. They preferred that the guidelines be presented as algorithms or flow charts/flow diagrams on plastic sheets, pocket cards, or in electronic medical records.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified the items of the asthma guidelines preferred by physicians in Korea. Asthma guidelines with physicians' preferences would encourage their implementation in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Koo
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Byung-Keun
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Wan
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sae-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye-Ryun
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Heung-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sun-Sin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Up
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: You-Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho