Direct mail improves knowledge of basic life support guidelines in general practice: a randomised study.
BACKGROUND
Implementation of new guidelines into clinical practice is often incomplete. Direct mail is a simple way of providing information to physicians and may improve implementation of new guidelines on basic life support (BLS). The aim of this study was to describe knowledge of the most recent European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Guidelines for BLS among general practitioners (GPs) and investigate whether direct mail improves theoretical knowledge of these guidelines.


METHODS
All general practice clinics (n=351) in Central Denmark Region were randomised to receive either direct mail (intervention) or no direct mail (control). The direct mail consisted of the official ERC BLS/AED poster and a cover letter outlining changes in compression depth and frequency in the new guidelines. In general practice clinics randomised to intervention, every GP received a direct mail addressed personally to him/her. Two weeks later, a multiple-choice questionnaire on demographics and BLS guidelines were mailed to GPs in both groups.


RESULTS
In total, 830 GPs were included in this study (direct mail, n=408; control, n=422). The response rate was 58%. The majority (91%) of GPs receiving direct mail were familiar with BLS Guidelines 2010 compared to 72% in the control group (P<0.001). Direct mail improved knowledge of the new recommended chest compression depth (67% vs. 40%, P<0.001) and chest compression frequency (62% vs. 40%, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Direct mail improved knowledge of changes in BLS guidelines and thus facilitated the implementation of this knowledge into clinical practice. Resuscitation councils and medical societies may consider using direct mail as a simple strategy to facilitate implementation of changes in clinical guidelines.
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Niels
N
Secher
Mette Marie
MM
Mikkelsen
Kasper
K
Adelborg
Ronni
R
Mikkelsen
Erik Lerkevang
EL
Grove
Jens Mørch
JM
Rubak
Peter
P
Vedsted
Bo
B
Løfgren
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011177:Postal Service; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires