Physicians' preferences for asthma guidelines implementation.
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.
Kang
Min-Koo
MK
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Byung-Keun
BK
Kim
Tae-Wan
TW
Kim
Sae-Hoon
SH
Kang
Hye-Ryun
HR
Park
Heung-Woo
HW
Chang
Yoon-Seok
YS
Kim
Sun-Sin
SS
Min
Kyung-Up
KU
Kim
You-Young
YY
Cho
Sang-Heon
SH