Background Patient safety is an undisputable part of healthcare. The use of clinical practice guidelines, usually based on evidence-based practice/best practice, promotes patient safety and high quality care, reduces unnecessary patient suffering, and healthcare costs. Analysing results from venous blood specimen collection is one of the most commonly used services within healthcare, and a substantial number of decisions on diagnosis, treatment, and treatment evaluation are based on the results. Hence, the accuracy of these tests are vitally important. Earlier research has demonstrated that healthcare staff report suboptimal adherence to venous blood specimen collection guidelines together with the need for improved practices. Blood sample collection is carried out by several professionals, among them registered nurses and, as a consequence, nursing students too. University nursing students learn and practice venous blood specimen collection in one of their first semesters. After initial skill training at clinical skill laboratories, they continue to perform the task during clinical placements in various clinical settings. Few or no studies have been performed on nursing students, hence it seemed important to assess guideline adherence to venous blood specimen collection among university students as well as to further explore adherence to guidelines among healthcare staff. Therefore, the overall aim for this thesis was to explore adherence to, and factors influencing venous blood specimen collection guidelines practice among university nursing students and healthcare staff. Methods The thesis includes four studies. Study I-III had a quantitative, cross-sectional design, study IV had a qualitative approach. Study I included 164 healthcare staff from 25 primary healthcare centres. Study II included 101 nursing students in their 5th and 6th semesters, and study III included 305 nursing students in their 2nd, 4th, and 6th semesters. To assess adherence to venous blood specimen collection guidelines, data were collected using the Venous Blood Specimen Questionnaire, completed with background variables (I, II, III) and additional scales (III). Descriptive statistics, multilevel and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the data. In study IV, data were collected through five focus group interviews among 6th semester nursing students (n=26). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Workplace affiliation was found to explain variances in reported adherence between different primary healthcare centres. Associations between reported venous blood specimen collection practices and individual as well as workplace factors were revealed. Nursing students were found to increasingly deviate from guideline adherence during their education. Also among students, several associations between guideline adherence and other iv factors were revealed. Reported research use at clinical practice was associated with higher levels of adherence, as were higher capability beliefs regarding both evidence-based practice and academic ability. Analyses from focus group interviews summarised students’ reflections on deviations from VBSC guidelines in the overall theme ‘Striving to blend in and simultaneously follow guidelines’. Conclusion Both healthcare staff at primary healthcare centres and nursing students demonstrate decreasing levels of guideline adherence with time. Factors influencing adherence are both individual as well as contextual. This indicate that both students and staff are subjected to socialisation processes that influences levels of adherence. In order to enhance venous blood specimen collection practices and thereby patient safety, actions must be taken - both in healthcare clinical contexts and by educators. The use of models in practical skill training, and in the ambition to bridge the theory-practice gap may be the path to success. It is reasonable to assume that collaboration between, on the one hand, education representatives and on the other, supervising RNs in clinical settings, will be fruitful. Finally, by empowering students their self-efficacy may be strengthened, and hence their ability to maintain guideline adherence.

A depressão é um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública do século XXI. Guias de prática clínica (GPCs) estão disponíveis para o tratamento da depressão e têm como objetivo fornecer a melhor e mais recente evidência disponível para os cuidados dos pacientes. Visando reduzir a duplicação de esforços e realizar a adequação de GPC ao contexto local o objetivo desta pesquisa é sintetizar as recomendações de GPCs de alta qualidade sobre o tratamento farmacológico da depressão em adultos na atenção primária. Foram realizadas as etapas busca sistemática dos GPCs, avaliação e seleção dos GPCs de melhor qualidade, e elaboração da síntese de recomendações de acordo com o preconizado no método ADAPTE. Foram considerados os GPCs com recomendações para o tratamento farmacológico da depressão em adultos em atenção primária, em língua inglesa, portuguesa ou espanhola, publicados a partir de 2011. Para a avaliação da qualidade dos GPCs, foi utilizado o Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) sendo considerados de alta qualidade os GPCs com 80% ou mais no domínio \"rigor metodológico\". As características associadas à alta qualidade dos GPCs foram analisadas por meio do teste estatístico de Fisher. A extração das recomendações foi realizada de modo independente por dois avaliadores e estas foram organizadas em tópicos. Dos 28 GPC avaliados apenas cinco (18%) foram considerados de alta qualidade. A realização de revisão sistemática e da revisão externa e a aplicação de consenso formal foram características associadas à alta qualidade. Na síntese, além dos GPCs de alta qualidade, foram incluídos 2 GPCs muito empregados na prática clínica. Constatou-se que a maioria dos GPCs traz recomendações concordantes e complementares. Quase todos os GPCs recomendam o uso de inibidores seletivos de recaptação de serotonina como primeira escolha de tratamento. Uma das principais divergências é a recomendação de agomelatina, milnaciprano e mianserina por um dos GPCs como opção de primeira linha de tratamento. A pesquisa demonstra que a qualidade dos GPCs está aquém do desejável, tal qual evidenciado em outros estudos. A elaboração da síntese de recomendações permitiu evidenciar que há um GPC que se destacou por recomendar o uso de medicamentos considerados pouco eficazes na depressão. Considerando que a maioria das recomendações eram concordantes e os GPCs complementavam-se, essa síntese pode contribuir para que sejam realizadas discussões e adaptações locais, favorecendo a elaboração de novos GPCs que possam atender às necessidades de distintos grupos de usuários e demandas regionais. / Depression is one of the most significant public health problems of the 21st century. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are available for treating depression and are used for providing the best and latest evidence available for patient care. To avoid the duplication of effort and allow the adequacy of CPGs to regional healthcare networks, the objective of this study is to summarise the recommendations of high-quality CPGs on the pharmacological treatment of depression in adults in the primary healthcare network. The stages of this study were the systematic search of CPGs, analysis and selection of high-quality CPGs, and summarisation of the recommendations according to the ADAPTE guidelines. The CPGs published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish since 2011 with recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of depression in adults in the primary healthcare network were considered. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) was used to evaluate the quality of CPGs. CPGs with a score of >=80% in the domain \'methodological rigour\' were considered high-quality. The factors associated with high quality were analysed using Fisher\'s exact test. The recommendations were extracted independently by two evaluators and organised into topics. Of the 28 evaluated CPGs, five (18%) were considered high-quality. The inclusion of systematic reviews and external reviews and the application of formal consensus were associated with high quality. In addition to high-quality CPGs, two CPGs commonly used in clinical practice were included in the summary. The recommendations provided by most CPGs were consistent and complementary. Almost all CPGs recommended using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as the first choice of treatment. One of the main divergences was the recommendation of agomelatine, milnacipran, and mianserin by one CPG as a first-line treatment option. The quality of CPGs was below desirable, and this result was corroborated by other studies. The analysis of the recommendations indicated that one CPG advised using medications with low efficacy in treating depression. Provided that most suggestions were concordant and the CPGs were complementary, this summary may contribute to local discussions and adaptations and promote the development of new CPGs that meet the needs of different user groups and regional demands.

A depressão é um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública do século XXI. Guias de prática clínica (GPCs) estão disponíveis para o tratamento da depressão e têm como objetivo fornecer a melhor e mais recente evidência disponível para os cuidados dos pacientes. Visando reduzir a duplicação de esforços e realizar a adequação de GPC ao contexto local o objetivo desta pesquisa é sintetizar as recomendações de GPCs de alta qualidade sobre o tratamento farmacológico da depressão em adultos na atenção primária. Foram realizadas as etapas busca sistemática dos GPCs, avaliação e seleção dos GPCs de melhor qualidade, e elaboração da síntese de recomendações de acordo com o preconizado no método ADAPTE. Foram considerados os GPCs com recomendações para o tratamento farmacológico da depressão em adultos em atenção primária, em língua inglesa, portuguesa ou espanhola, publicados a partir de 2011. Para a avaliação da qualidade dos GPCs, foi utilizado o Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) sendo considerados de alta qualidade os GPCs com 80% ou mais no domínio \"rigor metodológico\". As características associadas à alta qualidade dos GPCs foram analisadas por meio do teste estatístico de Fisher. A extração das recomendações foi realizada de modo independente por dois avaliadores e estas foram organizadas em tópicos. Dos 28 GPC avaliados apenas cinco (18%) foram considerados de alta qualidade. A realização de revisão sistemática e da revisão externa e a aplicação de consenso formal foram características associadas à alta qualidade. Na síntese, além dos GPCs de alta qualidade, foram incluídos 2 GPCs muito empregados na prática clínica. Constatou-se que a maioria dos GPCs traz recomendações concordantes e complementares. Quase todos os GPCs recomendam o uso de inibidores seletivos de recaptação de serotonina como primeira escolha de tratamento. Uma das principais divergências é a recomendação de agomelatina, milnaciprano e mianserina por um dos GPCs como opção de primeira linha de tratamento. A pesquisa demonstra que a qualidade dos GPCs está aquém do desejável, tal qual evidenciado em outros estudos. A elaboração da síntese de recomendações permitiu evidenciar que há um GPC que se destacou por recomendar o uso de medicamentos considerados pouco eficazes na depressão. Considerando que a maioria das recomendações eram concordantes e os GPCs complementavam-se, essa síntese pode contribuir para que sejam realizadas discussões e adaptações locais, favorecendo a elaboração de novos GPCs que possam atender às necessidades de distintos grupos de usuários e demandas regionais. / Depression is one of the most significant public health problems of the 21st century. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are available for treating depression and are used for providing the best and latest evidence available for patient care. To avoid the duplication of effort and allow the adequacy of CPGs to regional healthcare networks, the objective of this study is to summarise the recommendations of high-quality CPGs on the pharmacological treatment of depression in adults in the primary healthcare network. The stages of this study were the systematic search of CPGs, analysis and selection of high-quality CPGs, and summarisation of the recommendations according to the ADAPTE guidelines. The CPGs published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish since 2011 with recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of depression in adults in the primary healthcare network were considered. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) was used to evaluate the quality of CPGs. CPGs with a score of >=80% in the domain \'methodological rigour\' were considered high-quality. The factors associated with high quality were analysed using Fisher\'s exact test. The recommendations were extracted independently by two evaluators and organised into topics. Of the 28 evaluated CPGs, five (18%) were considered high-quality. The inclusion of systematic reviews and external reviews and the application of formal consensus were associated with high quality. In addition to high-quality CPGs, two CPGs commonly used in clinical practice were included in the summary. The recommendations provided by most CPGs were consistent and complementary. Almost all CPGs recommended using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as the first choice of treatment. One of the main divergences was the recommendation of agomelatine, milnacipran, and mianserin by one CPG as a first-line treatment option. The quality of CPGs was below desirable, and this result was corroborated by other studies. The analysis of the recommendations indicated that one CPG advised using medications with low efficacy in treating depression. Provided that most suggestions were concordant and the CPGs were complementary, this summary may contribute to local discussions and adaptations and promote the development of new CPGs that meet the needs of different user groups and regional demands.

Bakgrund: Postoperativt illamående och kräkningar (PONV, Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting) är ett vanligt problem efter anestesi. Även om många riktlinjer och riskbedömningsverktyg har utvecklats för PONV, så är implementeringen ofta svår. Attityder och kunskap kring ämnet har visat sig påverka implementeringen av riktlinjer. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka anestesipersonals kunskap och attityder kring PONV och kliniska riktlinjer för att förebygga PONV. Metod: Studien är utformad som en kvantitativ, deskriptiv enkätstudie. En totalundersökning genomfördes på en anestesiklinik på ett större sjukhus i Mellansverige. Enkäten innehöll frågor angående anestesipersonals attityder och kunskaper kring riktlinjer och PONV. Resultat: Anestesipersonalens kunskap om PONV var god och stämde överens med skattningen av de egna kunskaperna. Av respondenterna angav 45,5 % att PONV är ett vanligt problem inom anestesi medan 36,3 % såg det som ett stort problem på kliniken. Riktlinjer för PONV ansågs förbättra patientvården och vara av stort värde för att identifiera riskpatienter, men samtidigt framkom att endast 48,5 % uppgav att de använder riktlinjer för PONV dagligen. Större delen av respondenterna ansåg att det föreligger ett delat ansvar för att riktlinjer följs, men det rådde delade meningar om vilka som delade detta ansvar. Slutsats Orsakerna till den diskrepans som förelåg mellan respondenternas positiva attityder och användandet av riktlinjer kan inte till fullo utläsas i huvudresultat. Det kan dock med stöd av tidigare studier argumenteras att externa faktorer på kliniken spelar in. För att klargöra problemet vidare och hur riktlinjer bättre ska kunna implementeras i den kliniska verksamheten så krävs ytterligare studier i ämnet. / Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common problem after anesthesia. Even though many guidelines and risk assessment tools for PONV have been developed, implementation often is difficult. Attitudes and knowledge regarding the subject have been shown to influence the implementation. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate anesthesia staffs knowledge and attitudes regarding PONV and guidelines. Method: The study is designed as a quantitative, descriptive questionnaire study. A census of an anesthesia clinic of a larger Swedish hospital was executed. The questionnaire contained questions concerning anesthesia staffs attitudes and knowledge about guidelines and PONV. Results: The anesthesia staffs knowledge of PONV was good and correlated with their self-assessment. Of the respondents 45,5 % stated that PONV was a common problem in anesthesia, while 36,3 % regarded it as a big problem in their clinic. Guidelines for PONV were seen as improving patient care and to be of great value for identifying risk patients, while only 48,5 % stated that they use PONV guidelines daily. The major part of the respondents deemed the responsibility for following guidelines as collective, however the opinion on exactly who shared this responsibility differed. Conclusion: The reason for the discrepancy that occurred between the respondents’ positive attitudes and the use of guidelines cannot be fully deduced from the main results. However, with the support of earlier studies it can be argued that external factors in the clinic contribute. Further studies of the subject is needed to clarify the problem.

En el Perú, la elaboración de guías de práctica clínica tiene exigencia normativa desde el año 2005 (NT N° 027-MINSA/DGSP-V.01); sin embargo, su desarrollo ha ténido poco énfasis en la calidad metodológica de las mismas, prefiriendo el tipo narrativo. Desde hace varios años se realizan esfuerzos dispersos para mejorar la calidad metodológica, principalmente que su elaboaración esté basada en evidencias científicas. Actualmente se cuenta con una nueva normativa (NT N° 302-2015/MINSA) que pone mayor enfasis en esta exigencia y algunas instituciones ya trabajan para adecuarse a estandares internacionales y poder generar impactos positivos en nuestro sistema de salud a través del adecuado desarrollo de guias de practica clínica en nuestro pais. / There has been a regulation for generating clinical practice guidelines in Peru since 2005 (NT N° 027-MINSA/DGSP-V.01), which was issued by the Ministry of Health. However, its use has had little emphasis in the methodological quality of such guidelines, and a narrative style was preferred. Some isolated efforts aiming to improve the quality of such guidelines have taken place, especially with respect to have such documents produced based on evidence. Now we have a new regulation (NT N° 302-2015/MINSA), which places more emphasis in this requirement; and some institutions are already working in such way, in order to comply with international standards and be able to generate a positive impact in our healthcare system through the adequate development of clinical practice guidelines in our country.

No description available.

Malgré la fréquence d’utilisation des psychotropes chez les personnes plus âgées et leur propension aux événements indésirables liés aux médicaments, peu d’études se sont intéressées au respect des règles de bon usage des psychotropes dans cette population. L’objectif de ce travail était d’évaluer les modalités d’utilisation des psychotropes et le respect des recommandations de bon usage publiées en France. Deux types de population ont été inclus : un échantillon clinique constitué de patients âgés d’au moins 65 ans hospitalisés dans deux Pôles de psychiatrie à Bordeaux, et un échantillon de la population générale âgée d’au moins 65 ans, à partir d’une base de données de l’assurance maladie française. En population clinique, les règles de bon usage étaient plutôt bien respectées, avec, pour les benzodiazépines, la prescription d’une produit à demi-vie courte dans près de trois quarts des prescriptions et une posologie adéquate dans près de deux tiers des cas. Toutefois, un arrêt de traitement n’était jamais prévu dès l’initiation du traitement et le rythme de prescription était discontinu dans seulement un tiers des cas. Dans la population générale âgée, la durée et la surveillance biologique des traitements antidépresseurs étaient conformes chez moins de 20% des sujets, alors que près des trois quarts des sujets initiant un traitement par benzodiazépine recevaient une durée adéquate. En revanche moins de la moitié des délivrances concernaient une benzodiazépine anxiolytique à demi-vie courte. L’étude de l’impact de la publication des recommandations n’a pas montré qu’elle permettait une amélioration de l’utilisation des psychotropes. Il est nécessaire d’accompagner la publication des recommandations d’autres mesures, afin d’insister sur le bon usage des psychotropes, notamment la durée nécessaire de traitement antidépresseur et le choix d’un anxiolytique à demi-vie courte. / Despite a high frequency of use and a tendency to present with adverse events of drugs, few studies assessed compliance with guidelines related to proper use of psychotropic drugs in the older population. The aim was to assess the patterns of psychotropic drugs use in this population, as well as the compliance with French guidelines. Two population samples were included, a clinical sample of older psychiatric inpatients and a sample of the older general population using claims database of the national health insurance. In clinical population, compliance with guidelines was rather good, with prescription of a short half-life benzodiazepine in nearly three quarters of prescriptions and adequate dosage in nearly two third of cases. However, treatment discontinuation was never specified at the time of treatment initiation and rhythm of prescription was discontinuous in only one third of cases. In the older general population, duration of antidepressant treatment and biological monitoring was appropriate in only 20 % of patients, whereas nearly three quarters of subjects initiating a benzodiazepine treatment were treated over an appropriate duration. However, less than half of them had received a benzodiazepine anxiolytic of short half-life. The assessment of the impact of practice guidelines publication found no improvement of psychotropic drugs use. Other interventions should accompany guidelines publication in order to underline the importance of proper use of drugs, particularly antidepressant treatment duration and use of short half-life benzodiazepine drugs.

För att kunna ge vård av säker och god kvalitet krävs att sjuksköterskor har kunskap inom många områden, eftersom de har ansvar för såväl bedömning, planering och genomförande, som utvärdering och dokumentation av omvårdnadsarbetet. Ett av flera ansvarsområden för sjuksköterskor i deras dagliga arbete är beslutsfattande om insättning och skötsel av perifera venkatetrar (PVK). En PVK är en tunn plastkateter som sätts in i ett blodkärl via en kanyl. PVK används vid intravenös behandling med till exempel antibiotika och andra läkemedel, blodkomponenter eller näringslösningar. En stor andel av alla patienter inom hälsooch sjukvård kommer någon gång i kontakt med en PVK och riskerar då också att utsättas för komplikationer. En vanlig komplikation i samband med PVK är tromboflebit. Tromboflebit förekommer i olika svårighetsgrader och innebär att inflammation har uppstått i blodkärlet i kombination med samtidig blodpropp. Symtom som kan uppstå är rodnad, svullnad, smärta, hårdhet i kärlet och varig infektion. Det finns kliniska riktlinjer om PVK framtagna både på nationell och på lokal nivå som fungerar som ett stöd i beslutsfattandet. Tidigare forskning har visat att kliniskt verksamma ibland inte följer riktlinjer. Anledningar till att inte riktlinjer följs kan till exempel vara att de kliniskt verksamma inte håller med om det som rekommenderas, inte känner till rekommendationerna, inte har tid eller möjlighet att påverka de beslut som fattas eller att det finns individuella faktorer att ta hänsyn till för den enskilda patienten. 52 Frågan kan ställas om sjuksköterskor använder sig av kliniska riktlinjer i sitt dagliga arbete eller om det är andra faktorer och aspekter som har betydelse och påverkar beslutsfattandet. Denna licentiatavhandling syftade till att beskriva sjuksköterskors kliniska beslutsfattande genom att fokusera på deras följsamhet till riktlinjer och beslutsresonemang om PVK. Två studier har genomförts inom ramen för denna licentiatavhandling. Studie I undersökte i vilken utsträckning sjuksköterskor följer nationella och lokala riktlinjer om PVK. PVKns placering och storlek, tiden som PVKn varit placerad i blodkärlet, dokumentation vid PVKns förband samt om det fanns tecken på tromboflebit vid PVKn var variabler som undersöktes i relation till de rekommendationer som fanns. Utifrån två protokoll samlades strukturerad data in och analyserades. Totalt 343 PVK ingick i analysen. I studie II undersöktes de tecken och påverkande faktorer som har betydelse när sjuksköterskor fattar beslut om skötsel av PVK. I studien observerades 43 sjuksköterskor i sitt dagliga arbete. Sjuksköterskorna intervjuades också dels om PVK-besluten som de fattade under observationerna, dels om deras beslutsfattande om PVK-skötsel i allmänhet. Studie I visade att sjuksköterskor delvis följer riktlinjer. Det fanns skillnader mellan de vårdavdelningar som hade nationella riktlinjer och de som hade lokala riktlinjer, i hur de olika avdelningarna valde placering, storlek och dokumenterade vid PVKns förband. PVKn hade suttit längre tid än rekommenderat i varierande utsträckning. Andelen tromboflebiter var låg (7.0%) och tromboflebiterna var milda. Det tyder på att sjuksköterskor är noga med att ta bort PVK vid tecken på komplikationer. Studie II visade att sjuksköterskor i sitt kliniska resonemang om PVK-skötsel tar hänsyn till den individuella patientsituationen, sjuksköterskans arbetssituation och erfarenhet av PVK-skötsel. Det framkom även att sjuksköterskor balanserar mellan att undvika eller minimera obehag och smärta för patienten och samtidigt förebygga komplikationer från PVKn. Resultaten från denna licentiatavhandling kan få betydelse för undervisning av sjuksköterskestudenter och även när kliniska riktlinjer ska införas på vårdavdelningar. / Every working shift nurses make several decisions, including decisions about management of peripheral venous catheters (PVC). Peripheral catheterisation is a common procedure, which affects numerous patients in health care today. PVC are for example used for intravenous infusions with antibiotics, nutrients and blood components. Having PVC in situ may lead to complications such as thrombophlebitis. Clinical guidelines have been developed within the area to assist nurses in their decision-making, but clinical guidelines are not always adhered to. There are several reasons why clinicians do not always adhere to clinical guidelines, although such adherence may lead to fewer complications. Choices for decisions regarding PVC management have been investigated in previous studies, but not in a naturalistic setting. The overall aim of this licentiate thesis was to describe nurses’ clinical decision-making through focusing on their adherence to clinical guidelines and their clinical reasoning concerning decisions of PVC. Two studies have been conducted and data were collected during a six-month period, from December 2004 to June 2005. Study I investigated nurses’ adherence to national and local PVC guidelines by focusing on time in situ, site, size and documentation at the dressing. The thrombophlebitis frequency associated with PVC in situ was also investigated. Structured observations through two protocols were carried out and data about 343 PVC were analysed. Study II investigated nurses’ clinical reasoning regarding PVC management and cues and factors of importance in the decision10 making process were analysed. Nurses were observed in their daily work with focus on PVC management. They were interviewed both about the PVC decisions made in the observed situations and about factors influencing their reasoning regarding PVC management in general. The observations facilitated the interviews. Transcribed interview texts were analysed with content analysis. The results in study I showed that thrombophlebitis frequency was 7.0% and the nurses seemed to replace or remove PVC before any severe complications arose in accordance with clinical guidelines. Nurses partly adhered to national and local guidelines concerning site, size, documentation at the dressing and time in situ. Differences in guideline adherence were observed for wards with local or national guidelines, as well as for wards with different specialities. The results indicate that local guidelines may have an impact on guideline adherence but these results need further exploration. Analysis of interview texts in study II resulted in a category system with three main categories describing cues and factors of importance in the nurses’ clinical reasoning about PVC: the individual patient situation, the nurse’s work situation, and experience of PVC management. An overall theme was also revealed in the interview texts and the nurses balance in their clinical reasoning between avoiding or minimizing discomfort and pain for the patient and preventing complications from the PVC. The results from this licentiate thesis have implications for the education of nurses as well as during implementation of clinical guidelines. / <p>Note: The papers are not included in the fulltext online.</p><p>Paper I in thesis as accepted manuscript, paper II as manuscript.</p><p></p>

Clinical practice, public health, and policy guidelines should be developed based on a systematic approach that uses the best available evidence. The advent of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework has facilitated this, resulting in a transparent approach to guideline development. GRADE suggests that guideline developers seldom make strong recommendations based on low or very low confidence in effect estimates (strong l/vl). The World Health Organization (WHO) produces recommendations that guide public health policy and, in 2003, WHO adopted the GRADE approach to guideline development. Initial anecdotal evidence suggested that WHO issues a large number of strong recommendations and particularly strong l/vl. Our research team evaluated the nature of WHO recommendations and conducted a qualitative study using interviews of guideline panel members. Key findings included: i) WHO makes a large proportion of recommendations as strong l/vl ii) many strong l/vl are inconsistent with GRADE guidance iii) reasons guideline panel members offered for strong l/vl included skepticism about the value of making conditional recommendations; political considerations; a high confidence in benefits despite formal ratings of low confidence; and long-standing practices, funding, and policy; iv) methodologist interviewees indicated panelists’ lack of commitment to conditional recommendations; a perceived tension between methodologists and panelists due to resistance to adhering to GRADE guidance; both financial and non-financial conflicts of interest among panel members as explanations of strong l/vl; and the need for greater clarity of, and support for, the role of methodologists as co-chairs of panels. The understanding of when and why strong l/vl are formulated at WHO is an important methodological issue that has implications not just for WHO, but for a wide range of guideline developers elsewhere. Our findings offer insights that may guide interventions to enhance trustworthiness of practice guidelines. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Despite substantial healthcare costs, patient outcomes are sub-optimal in the United States and Canada compared to other countries that spend proportionally less on healthcare. This has led to recognition of the need to improve healthcare value, utilization of tools including clinical practice guidelines and development of initiatives such as the Choosing Wisely Campaign to achieve this goal. In spite of the intuitive appeal of these interventions designed to increase physician awareness of evidence and empower patients to engage in shared decision-making, they have had limited success in changing practice and physician prescribing behaviours. Using a mixed-methods approach, this thesis represents a purposeful attempt to understand the failure of existing approaches through an examination of the factors that influence clinical decision making. Specifically, the thesis integrates quantitative and qualitative methodologies to develop a deeper understanding of clinical decision-making. Consisting of a clinical vignette based survey, the quantitative study explores decision-making in four specific commonly encountered case contexts. After choosing the preferred management option, participants rated the influence of different factors on their decisions. Follow-up questions explored knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding incorporating cost considerations into decision-making. The results of the study were explored further in the qualitative component of the mixed study. The results indicate that clinical decision-making is influenced by an interrelated set of socioecological factors with evidence and clinical practice guidelines playing a secondary role. Because lack of knowledge is not a major factor in guideline discordant care, strategies to improve knowledge will have minimal effect in improving care. The qualitative study included an inquiry into the need for teaching and learning on the topic of cost and cost-effectiveness and sought input from physicians working in diverse settings on methods and topics that need to be included in medical education. The contributions of this thesis include a deeper understanding of the factors that influence clinical decision-making and suggestions for enhancing medical education. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Despite the highest health-care expenditure in the world, patient health outcomes are suboptimal in the United States (US). Additionally, out-of-pocket patient costs are increasingly a cause of financial distress to American patients. Although Canada spends comparatively less than the US on healthcare, it is one of the top ten countries for healthcare spending as a proportion of the gross domestic product. In spite of this level of spending, patient outcomes in the US and Canada are worse when compared to many other economically developed countries that spend relatively less on healthcare. A substantial portion of healthcare spending is for services that do not improve patient outcomes while services proven to improve patient outcomes are underused. Utilizing sequential quantitative and qualitative studies this thesis is a purposeful attempt to identify and examine the factors that influence clinical decision making by physicians. The knowledge gained in this study may help inform the development and evaluation of strategies targeted at increasing adoption of evidence-based practices leading to improved health-outcomes at affordable costs.