Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background A need for primary care practitioners to utilise clinical research evidence in practice has been identified and is well described. However a chasm between evidence and practice still exists in primary health care (PHC). Although clinical practice guidelines have been shown to improve the quality of clinical practice and attempt to bridge the gap between evidence and practice, practitioners are often not aware of practice guidelines and fail to access, adopt or adhere to evidence-based recommendations contained in them. Central question How can the implementation of clinical research evidence, using the example of the national evidence-based guideline on asthma, be improved in the PHC sector in the MDHS of the Cape Town metropole? Aim This research aimed to improve the implementation of clinical research evidence in PHC, by learning from the specific example of the national evidence-based asthma guideline in PHC practice in the Metro District Health System (MDHS) of the Cape Town metropole, and to make recommendations to key stakeholders regarding the future implementation of evidence-based guidelines. Objectives  To gain insight into the current quality of asthma care in PHC in the MDHS of the Cape Town metropole.  To determine whether the process of implementation of the new asthma guideline contributed to an improvement in the quality of care in the MDHS.  To explore ways of improving the process of implementation of the national asthma guideline in PHC in the MDHS.  To gain insight into the perceptions, attitudes and knowledge of asthmatic patients regarding their asthma management.  To explore how EBP is understood and perceived by doctors in PHC. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za  To understand how PHC doctors in the public and private health sectors gain access to and use guidelines.  To explore the experiences, perspectives and understanding of family physicians (FPs) (academic, private and public sector) with regard to EBP and the implementation of guidelines in PHC practice.  To gain insight into the understanding of FPs regarding the perceived problems and main barriers to EBP and their views of the process of guideline implementation in PHC.  To gain insight into the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of clinical nurse practitioners in the public sector with regard to EBP and the process of guideline implementation. Methodology This study was conducted in the PHC setting of the Cape Town metropole. This research was conducted in three phases and used cross-sectional surveys, quality improvement (QI) cycles, qualitative research methods, such as interviews with FPs, and participatory action research (PAR). Phase 1 involved a cross-sectional survey, which looked at the knowledge, awareness and perspectives of doctors, regarding evidence-based practice (EBP) and guideline implementation using the national evidence-based asthma guideline published in 2007. It also involved QI cycles conducted over a period of five years to assess the baseline quality of asthma care in the PHC sector and to evaluate improvement in asthma care as a result of the QI cycles and associated educational workshops. Phase 2 involved interviews conducted with FPs in academia as well as in the private and public health care sectors who were responsible for clinical governance in PHC in the Cape Town metropole. During this phase of the research the experiences, perspectives and understanding of FPs (academic, private and public sector) with regard to EBP and the implementation of guidelines in PHC practice were explored. Phase 3 involved PAR with primary care practitioners at community health centres (CHCs) using a co-operative inquiry group (CIG) to improve asthma guideline implementation in PHC. The CIG investigated how to improve the implementation of the asthma guideline in their respective CHCs and completed four cycles of planning-action-observation-reflection. The four cycles focused on implementation of an asthma self-management plan (ASMP), exploring the capability of clinical nurse practitioners to implement the guidelines, exploring the views of patients on their asthma care and implementing better patient education. A final consensus of the CIG’s learning was then constructed. Results With regard to quality improvement of asthma care in PHC: The first objective of the study was largely addressed through the baseline audits conducted in 2007 and 2008. This showed that the baseline quality of asthma care, with specific reference to the assessment of the patient’s level of control, measuring the patient’s peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), assessing the patient’s inhaler/ spacer technique, recording the smoking status, the adequate prescription of controller and reliever metered dose inhalers (MDI) refills during visits and particularly the issuing of an ASMP during visits, was poor. The second objective was addressed through the annual audits conducted in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 during the period of implementation. This showed that although clear cause and effect reasoning cannot be inferred, overall statistically and clinically significant improvements in the quality of care occurred in conjunction with the process of asthma guideline implementation. Despite the improvement in structural and process criteria there was no corresponding improvement in the outcome criteria and in fact the utilisation of facilities for emergency visits significantly increased, while the hospitalisation of patients remained constant. The third objective was to explore ways of improving the process of implementation of the national asthma guideline in PHC in the MDHS. This was largely addressed through the action-research process at selected CHCs. This showed that implementation could be improved by ongoing educational support and formal interactive training workshops with the staff members who were directly involved with patients. The development and use of educational aids and ASMPs based on the guideline recommendations were useful and encouraged patient participation in decision making regarding their care. The fourth objective, specific to asthma care, addressed by means of a survey and showed that even though the majority of asthma patients participated in decisions regarding their asthma and felt satisfied with the quality of care they received, the prevalence of smoking among asthma patients was high and opportunities for smoking cessation counselling were missed. Even though documentation of peak flow recordings and patients’ knowledge of the difference between the reliever and controller MDIs were good, patients’ perceptions with regard to education on the inhaler technique, the assessment of the level of control, the issue of written information regarding asthma and the use of ASMPs remained poor and could be improved. With regard to EBP and asthma guideline implementation in PHC: The fifth objective of the study was addressed by means of a survey which showed that the doctors in PHC used evidence in clinical decision making and agreed on the usefulness and importance of EBP in improving the quality of patient care in South Africa. There was a difference in the engagement with activities related to EBP between the public and private sector PHC doctors and there is a need for formal training in the skills and processes of EBP. The sixth objective was addressed by means of a survey which showed that a good proportion of both public and private sector doctors in the Cape Town metropole were well aware of the asthma guideline, had used the guideline and had adopted, acted on and adhered to specific guideline recommendations. There was a high level of general awareness of the asthma guideline and recommendations were being adopted in practice, although the lack of formal disease registers, monitoring and evaluation of asthma care and the utilisation of an ASMP could be improved on. The seventh objective was addressed by qualitative research which showed how the views and perspectives of FPs regarding EBP and the process of guideline implementation contributed to the development of a conceptual framework for the process of guideline implementation. The eighth objective was addressed by qualitative research, which identified barriers present in each step of the implementation process. Time constraints, practitioner workload, lack of financial resources, lack of ownership, the lack of timeous organisational support and practitioner resistance to change were important barriers to guideline implementation in an already overburdened PHC setting. A conceptual model was developed which showed that the process of guideline implementation should be tailored to the barriers identified. The ninth objective was addressed by means of a survey which showed that the concept of EBP was fairly new to CNPs in PHC and identified a need to learn more about it. CNPs agreed that clinical research evidence is useful in the daily management of patients, that their decision making is based on evidence, that evidence-based nursing can improve the quality of patient care, that there is a place for evidence-based nursing in their practices at their respective CHCs, that EBP will make a difference in the quality of care of their patients and that evidence-based nursing practice has an important role to play in South Africa. Although the awareness of CNPs with regard to the asthma guideline was poor, the vast majority reported that they personally educated patients on the difference between reliever and controller MDIs, recorded the smoking status of patients in the records, demonstrated the inhaler technique to all their asthma patients, assessed the level of control and agreed that inhaled corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment in patients with chronic persistent asthma. However only a small minority (mainly at the CHCs where action research occurred) started issuing patients with ASMPs. In answering the central question: “How can the process of implementation of clinical research evidence, using the example of the national evidence-based guideline on asthma, be improved in the PHC sector in the MDHS of the Cape Town metropole?”, this thesis concludes that the process of guideline implementation can be improved in the PHC sector by an in depth understanding and systematic approach to the whole process. A conceptual framework is provided as a model which attempts to guide and make sense of this process of guideline implementation. A stepwise approach is presented and provides a summary of the main research findings. The model shows that the initial process of evidence creation should not only deal with research evidence of high quality, but should incorporate research evidence that is relevant to the particular context of care. In addition the model shows that guideline development should be inclusive and involve a wider spectrum of stakeholders as well as patients; that guideline contextualisation, dissemination and implementation should be carefully planned. Special consideration should be given to local decision making about adoption or prioritisation of specific recommendations as part of ongoing quality improvement cycles and the conversion of published guidelines into practical tools for practitioners to use in consultation, prior to dissemination. Implementation should anticipate that members of the PHC staff will differ in their readiness to change and that strategies should consciously embrace principles of behaviour change and build up a sense of ownership, choice and control over local adoption of the guidelines. Academic centres, such as universities and professional bodies, have a role to play in identifying, appraising and synthesising the evidence, and giving input into guideline development. They can also assist by innovating and evaluating practical tools as part of the contextualisation stage and by providing continuing education during implementation as part of their social responsibility. The health care organisation (HCO) should prevent unnecessary delays in guideline implementation by ensuring that policy, resources and recommendations are aligned during the contextualisation stage; that barriers encountered should be dealt with throughout the entire process, and that ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the quality of care occurs. Conclusion This research used different methods and innovative PAR to bridge the gap between evidence and practice. A new conceptual model for guideline implementation is recommended for use to assist with implementation and knowledge translation in PHC locally, nationally and in similar Low Middle Income Countries (LMIC) in Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond ‘n Behoefte om kliniese navorsingsbewyse in die praktyk te benut, is by primêre – sorg praktisyns geïdentifiseer en word goed beskryf. Daar bestaan egter steeds ‘n gaping tussen bewyse en die praktyk in primêre gesondheidsorg. Alhoewel getoon kon word dat kliniese praktykriglyne die kwaliteit van kliniese praktyk verbeter, en poog om die gaping tussen bewys en praktyk te oorbrug, is praktisyns dikwels nie bewus van praktykriglyne nie, en faal daarin om toegang te verkry tot bewysgebaseerde aanbevelings wat daarin vervat is, asook om dit aan te neem en na te kom. Sentrale vraag Hoe kan die implementering van kliniese navorsingbewyse, deur die voorbeeld van nasionale bewysgebaseerde riglyne oor asma te gebruik, verbeter word in die primêre gesondheidsorgsektor in die Metropooldistrik – gesondheidstelsel van die Kaapstad – metropool? Doel Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om die implementering van kliniese navorsingbewyse in die primêre gesondheidsorg te verbeter, deur te leer vanuit die spesifieke voorbeeld van die nasionale bewysgebaseerde asmariglyne in die primêre gesondheidsorgpraktyk in die Metropooldistrik – gesondheidstelsel van die Kaapstad - metropool, en om aanbevelings aan sleutel – rolspelers te maak aangaande die toekomstige implementering van bewysgebaseerde riglyne. Doelwitte  Om insig te verkry in die huidige kwaliteit van asmasorg in die primêre gesondheidsorg in die Metropooldistrik – gesondheidstelsel van die Kaapstad – metropool.  Om vas te stel of die implementeringsproses van die nuwe asmariglyne bygedra het tot ‘n verbetering in die kwaliteit van sorg in die Metropooldistrik – gesondheidstelsel.  Om maniere te verken om die implementeringsproses van die nasionale asmariglyne in die primêre gesondheidsorg in die Metropooldistrik – gesondheidstelsel te verbeter.  Om insig te verkry in die opvattings, houding en kennis van asmatiese pasiënte met betrekking tot hul asma – bestuur.  Om te verken hoe bewysgebaseerde praktyk verstaan en deur dokters in primêre gesondheidsorg toegepas word.  Om te verstaan hoe primêre gesondheidsorgdokters in die openbare - en privaatgesondheidsektore toegang tot, en die toepassing van riglyne verkry.  Om die ervaringe, perspektiewe en begrip van gesinspraktisyns (akademies, privaat en openbare sektor) met betrekking tot bewysgebaseerde praktyk, en die implementering van riglyne in primêre gesondheidsorg, te verken.  Om insig te verkry in die begrip van gesinspraktisyns met betrekking tot die probleme wat waargeneem is, hoofhindernisse tot bewysgebaseerde praktyk, asook hul persepsies van die proses van riglyn – implementering in primêre gesondheidsorg.  Om insig te verkry in die kennis, persepsies en houding van kliniese verpleegpraktisyns in die openbare sektor, met betrekking tot bewysgebaseerde praktyk en die proses van riglyn – implementering. Metodologie Hierdie studie is uitgevoer in die primêre gesondheidsorg - instellings van die Kaapstad – metropool. Hierdie navorsing is in drie fases uitgevoer, en het deursnee – ondersoeke, kwaliteitverbeteringsiklusse, kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes soos onderhoude met gesinspraktisyns, en deelnemende aksienavorsing gebruik. Fase 1 het ‘n deursnee – ondersoek behels oor die kennis, bewusmaking en perspektiewe van dokters met betrekking tot bewysgebaseerde praktyk en riglyn – implementering , deur die nasionale bewysgebaseerde asmariglyne te gebruik wat in 2007 gepubliseer is. Dit het ook kwaliteitverbeteringsiklusse behels wat oor ‘n tydperk van vyf jaar uitgevoer is, om die basislyn – kwaliteit van asmasorg in die primêre gesondheidsorg te assesseer, en om die verbetering in asmasorg te evalueer as ‘n uitvloesel van die kwaliteitverbeteringsiklusse en geassosieerde opvoedkundige werkswinkels. Fase 2 het onderhoude behels met gesinspraktisyns in akademia, sowel as in die privaat - en openbare gesondheidsorgsektore wat verantwoordelik was vir kliniese staatsbestuur in primêre gesondheidsorg in die Kaapstad – metropool. Gedurende hierdie fase van die navorsing was die ervaringe, perspektiewe en begrip van gesinspraktisyns (akademia, privaat – en openbare sektor) met betrekking tot bewysgebaseerde praktyk, en die implementering van riglyne in primêre gesondheidsorg, verken. Fase 3 het deelnemende aksienavorsing met primêre sorg – praktisyns by gemeenskaps – gesondheidsentrums behels, deur ‘n koöperatiewe ondersoekgroep te gebruik om die asmariglyn – implementering in primêre gesondheidsorg te verbeter. Die koöperatiewe ondersoekgroep het ondersoek ingestel hoe om die implementering van die asma – riglyne in hul onderskeie gemeenskaps – gesondheidsentrums te verbeter, en het vier siklusse van beplanning – aksie – observasie – refleksie voltooi. Die vier siklusse het gefokus op die implementering van ‘n asma – selfbestuurplan, die bekwaamheid van kliniese verpleegpraktisyns om die riglyne te implementeer te verken, die persepsies van pasiënte oor hul asmasorg te verken, en die implementering van beter pasiënt – opvoeding. ‘n Finale konsensus van die koöperatiewe ondersoekgroep se studie was toe opgestel. Resultate Met betrekking tot gehalteverbetering van asmasorg in primêre gesondheidsorg: Die eerste doelwit van die studie is hoofsaaklik aangespreek deur die basislyn – oudit wat in 2007 en 2008 uitgevoer is. Dit het getoon dat die basislynkwaliteit van asmasorg, met spesifieke verwysing na die assessering van pasiënte se vlak van beheer, meting van die pasiënt se piek ekspiratoriese vloeitempo, assessering van die pasiënt se inhaleringstegniek, optekening van die pasiënt se rookstatus, die voldoende voorskryf van reguleerder - en verligter gemeterde dosis inhaleerderhervullers tydens besoeke, en veral die verskaffing van ‘n asma – selfbestuurplan tydens besoeke, swak was. Die tweede doelwit is aangespreek deur die jaarlikse ouditte wat uitgevoer is in 2007, 2008, 2010 en 2011 gedurende die periode van implementering. Dit toon dat, hoewel duidelike oorsaak en effek – argumentering nie afgelei kan word nie, algehele statisties en klinies - beduidende verbeterings in die kwaliteit van sorg voorgekom het, in samewerking met die proses van asmariglyn – implementering. Ten spyte van die verbetering in strukturele – en proseskriteria, was daar geen ooreenstemmende verbetering in die uitkomskriteria nie. In werklikheid het die benutting van fasiliteite vir noodbesoeke aansienlik verhoog, terwyl die hospitalisasie van pasiënte konstant gebly het. Die derde objektief was om maniere te verken om die implementeringsproses van die nasionale asmariglyne in primêre gesondheidsorg in die Metropooldistrik – gesondheidstelsel te verbeter. Dit was hoofsaaklik aangespreek deur ‘n aksienavorsingproses by geselekteerde gemeenskaps – gesondheidsentrums. Dit het getoon dat implementering verbeter kon word deur deurlopende opvoedkundige ondersteuning en formele interaktiewe opleidingswerkswinkels met die personeellede wat direk betrokke was met die pasiënte. Die ontwikkeling en gebruik van opvoedkundige hulpmiddels, en asma - selfbestuurplanne gebaseer op die riglyn – aanbevelings was nuttig, en het pasiëntdeelname in besluitneming rakende hul sorg, aangemoedig. Die vierde doelwit, spesifiek met betrekking tot asmasorg, is aangespreek by wyse van ‘n opname. Dit het getoon dat, alhoewel die meerderheid van asma – pasiënte deelgeneem het aan besluite rakende hul asma, en tevrede was met die kwaliteit van sorg wat hulle ontvang het, die voorkoms van rook onder asma – pasiënte hoog was, en geleenthede vir rookstaking – berading was gemis. Alhoewel dokumentasie van piekvloei – opnames en pasiënte se kennis van die verskil tussen die verligter en kontroleerder - gemeterde dosis inhaleerders goed was, was pasiënte se persepsies met betrekking tot opvoeding in die inhaleringstegniek, die assessering van die vlak van beheer, die uitreiking van geskrewe inligting ten opsigte van asma, en die gebruik van asma – selfbestuurplanne steeds swak en kon dit verbeter word. Met betrekking tot bewysgebaseerde praktyk en asmariglyn – implementering in primêre gesondheidsorg: Die vyfde doelwit van die studie is aangespreek by wyse van ‘n opname wat getoon het dat die dokters in primêre gesondheidsorg bewyse in kliniese besluitneming gebruik het, en saamgestem het met die nuttigheid en belangrikheid van bewysgebaseerde praktyk in die verbetering van die kwaliteit van pasiëntsorg in Suid – Afrika. Daar was ‘n verskil in omgang met aktiwiteite wat verband hou met bewysgebaseerde praktyke tussen die openbare – en privaatsektordokters. Daar is dus ‘n behoefte aan formele opleiding in die vaardighede en prosesse van bewysgebaseerde praktyke. Die sesde doelwit is aangespreek by wyse van ‘n opname wat getoon het dat ‘n goeie proporsie van beide openbare en privaatsektordokters in die Kaapstad- metropool wel bewus was van die asmariglyn en het spesifieke riglyn – aanbevelings aangeneem, daarop gereageer en nagekom. Daar was ‘n hoë vlak van algemene bewustheid van die asmariglyn, en aanbevelings was aangeneem in die praktyk, alhoewel daar verbeter kon word op die gebrek aan formele siekteregisters, monitering en evaluering van asmasorg, en die benutting van ‘n asma – selfbestuurplan. Die sewende doelwit is aangespreek deur kwalitatiewe navorsing wat getoon het hoe die persepsies en perspektiewe van gesinspraktisyns ten opsigte van bewysgebaseerde praktyk en die proses van riglyn – implementering bygedra het tot die ontwikkeling van ‘n konseptuele raamwerk vir die proses van riglyn – implementering. Die agste doelwit is aangespreek deur kwalitatiewe navorsing, wat hindernisse in elke stap van die implementeringsproses identifiseer het. Tydbeperkings, praktisynswerklading, gebrek aan finansiële hulpbronne, gebrek aan eienaarskap, die gebrek aan tydige organisasie – ondersteuning en praktisynsweerstand ten opsigte van verandering, was belangrike hindernisse in riglyn – implementering in ‘n reeds oorlaaide primêre sorg – omgewing. ‘n Konseptuele model is ontwikkel wat getoon het dat die proses van riglyn – implementering aangepas moet word by die geïdentifiseerde hindernisse. Die negende doelwit is aangespreek by wyse van ‘n opname wat getoon het dat die konsep van bewysgebaseerde praktyk betreklik nuut was vir kliniese verpleegpraktisyns in primêre gesondheidsorg, en het ‘n behoefte geïdentifiseer om meer hieroor te leer. Kliniese verpleegpraktisyns het saamgestem dat kliniese navorsing nuttig is in die daaglikse bestuur van pasiënte, dat hul besluitneming gebaseer moet wees op bewyse, dat bewysgebaseerde verpleging die kwaliteit van pasiëntsorg kan verbeter, dat daar ‘n plek is vir bewysgebaseerde verpleging in hul praktyke by hul onderskeie gemeenskap-gesondheidsentrums, dat bewysgebaseerde praktyk ‘n verskil sal maak in die kwaliteit van sorg van hul pasiënte, en dat bewysgebaseerde verpleegpraktyk ‘n belangrike rol kan speel in Suid – Afrika. Alhoewel die bewustheid onder kliniese verpleegpraktisyns met betrekking tot die asmariglyne swak was, het die oorgrote meerderheid verslag gegee dat hulle die pasiënte persoonlik opgevoed het oor die verskil tussen verligting – en beheerder gemeterde dosis - inhaleerders, die rookstatus van pasiënte in die verslae opgeteken het, die inhaleringstegniek aan al hul pasiënte gedemonstreer het, die vlak van beheer geassesseer het, en saamgestem dat geïnhaleerde kortikosteroïede die staatmaker van behandeling is in pasiënte met chroniese, aanhoudende asma. Slegs ‘n klein minderheid (hoofsaaklik by die gemeenskap – gesondheidsentrums waar aksienavorsing geskied) het egter begin om pasiënte van asma – selfbestuurplanne te voorsien. In die beantwoording van die sentrale vraag: “Hoe kan die proses van implementering van kliniese navorsingsbewyse, deur die voorbeeld van die nasionale bewysgebaseerde riglyne oor asma, verbeter word in die primêre gesondheidsorgsektor in die Metropooldistrik - gesondheidstelsel van die Kaapstad – metropool?”, kom hierdie tesis tot die gevolgtrekking dat die proses van riglyn – implementering in die primêre gesondheidsorg verbeter kan word deur ‘n in – diepte begrip en sistematiese benadering tot die hele proses. ‘n Konseptuele raamwerk word voorsien as ‘n model wat poog om te lei en sin te maak van hierdie proses van riglyn – implementering. ‘n Stapsgewyse benadering word aangebied en verskaf ‘n opsomming van die hoof – navorsingbevindinge. Die model toon dat die aanvanklike proses van bewyse – skepping nie slegs navorsingbewyse van hoë kwaliteit moet oorweeg nie, maar navorsingbewyse moet inkorporeer wat relevant is tot die bepaalde konteks van sorg. Boonop toon die model dat riglyn – ontwikkeling inklusief behoort te wees, en behels dit ‘n wyer spektrum van rolspelers sowel as pasiënte; dat riglyn – kontekstualisering, verspreiding en implementering versigtig beplan behoort te word. Spesiale oorweging moet gegee word aan plaaslike besluitneming oor die aanneming of prioritisering van spesifieke aanbevelings as deel van volgehoue kwaliteitverbeteringsiklusse, en die omskakeling van gepubliseerde riglyne na praktiese hulpmiddels vir praktisyns om te gebruik in die konsultasiefase, alvorens verspreiding daarvan plaasvind. Implementering behoort te verwag dat lede van die primêre gesondheidsorg sal verskil in hul gereedheid om te verander, en dat strategieë doelbewus die beginsels van gedragsverandering sal insluit en ‘n gevoel kweek van eienaarskap, keuse en beheer oor plaaslike aanneming van die riglyne. Akademiese sentrums, soos universiteite en professionele liggame, het ‘n rol om te speel in die identifisering, gehalteversekering en sintetisering van die bewyse, en om insette te lewer in die riglyn - ontwikkeling. Hulle kan ook behulpsaam wees deur praktiese hulpmiddels te innoveer en te evalueer as deel van die kontekstualiseringfase, en om deurlopende opvoeding te verskaf gedurende implementering as deel van hul sosiale verantwoordelikheid. Die gesondheidsorg – organisasies moet onnodige vertragings in riglyn – implementering voorkom deur te verseker dat beleid, bronne en aanbevelings in lyn is gedurende die kontekstualiseringsfase; dat hindernisse wat teëgekom word, regdeur die hele proses hanteer word, en dat volgehoue monitering en evaluering van kwaliteitsorg plaasvind. Gevolgtrekking Hierdie navorsing het van verskillende metodes en innoverende deelnemende aksienavorsing gebruik gemaak om die gaping tussen bewyse en praktyk te sluit. ‘n Nuwe konseptuele model vir riglyn – implementering word aanbeveel vir gebruik om behulpsaam te wees met die implementering en kennis -translasie in primêre gesondheidsorg plaaslik, nasionaal en in soortgelyke lae - en middel - inkomstelande in Afrika.

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Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Behandlungsqualität und Behandlungsdauer der Kiefer- orthopädischen Abteilung einer Universitätsklinik zu bestimmen. Dazu wurden die Behandlungsmodelle vor und nach der Behandlung mit Hilfe des PAR (Peer Assess- ment Rating)-Indexes beurteilt. Weiterhin wurden mögliche Einflußgrößen auf die Behandlungsqualität und Behandlungsdauer untersucht. Die Behandlungsunterlagen von 100 fortlaufend abgeschlossenen Patienten (62 weiblich, 38 männlich) wurden retrospektiv ausgewertet. Das durchschnittliche Alter bei Behandlungsbeginn lag bei 14,9 Jahren (7,4 - 42,2 Jahre). Am häufigsten wurde die Behandlung im Alter von 9 oder 10 Jahren begonnen, 24 Patienten waren er- wachsen. Die Angle-Klasse II (71%) war am zahlreichsten vertreten, gefolgt von der Angle-Klasse I (21%) und der Klasse III (8%). 77 Patienten versäumten vereinbarte Termine, 38 Patienten mußten wegen ungenügender Mitarbeit ermahnt werden. Es kam ein breites Spektrum kieferorthopädischer Behandlungsgeräte zum Einsatz. Bei 95 Patienten wurde eine festsitzende Apparatur verwendet. Bei 52 Patienten er- folgte die Behandlung ausnahmslos mit dieser Apparatur, 33 Patienten wurden auf- einanderfolgend mit herausnehmbaren und festsitzenden Geräten behandelt und 10 Patienten kombiniert kieferorthopädisch und kieferchirurgisch. Nur 5 Patienten wur- den ausschließlich mit herausnehmbaren funktionskieferorthopädischen Geräten the- rapiert. Bei 31 Patienten wurden während der kieferorthopädischen Behandlung Zähne extrahiert. Der PAR Wert vor Behandlungsbeginn lag für die Gesamtgruppe bei durchschnittlich 23,9 Punkten. Der PAR Wert nach Behandlungsende lag bei 5,2. Die prozentuale Verbesserung betrug 75,6%. 65 Patienten hatten nach Behandlungsende einen PAR Wert ? 5 und 89 Patienten einen PAR Wert ? 10. Nur 4 Patienten erreichten einen PAR Wert von null. Die Verteilung der Patienten auf die einzelnen Verbesserungs- Kategorien lautete: greatly improved" 33 Patienten, improved" 65 Patienten, worse - no different" 2 Patienten. Auf die Behandlungsqualität hatte keiner der untersuchten Faktoren (Behandlungsmittel, Extraktion/Nichtanlage, Angle-Klasse, Mitarbeit und Geschlecht) einen signifikanten Einfluß. Die mittlere Behandlungsdauer aller Patienten betrug 39,1 Monate (8 - 85 Monate). Auf die Behandlungsdauer hatten von den untersuchten Faktoren (PAR Anfangswert, Behandlungsmittel, Extraktion/Nichtanlage, Angle-Klasse, Mitarbeit, Geschlecht und Alter bei Behandlungsbeginn) der PAR Anfangswert bei festsitzender Behandlung, die Behandlungsmittel, die Mitarbeit und das Alter bei Behandlungsbeginn einen signifikanten Einfluß. Die Behandlung mit herausnehmbaren und anschließend fest- sitzenden Apparaturen dauerte mit durchschnittlich 56,2 Monaten erwartungsgemäß am längsten. Die alleinige Behandlung mit festsitzenden Apparaturen benötigte im Schnitt 30,3 Monate, eine kieferorthopädisch-kieferchirurgische Kombinationsthera- pie beanspruchte 27,1 Monate. Extraktionen und/oder Nichtanlagen zeigten Tenden- zen zu längeren Behandlungszeiten. Jüngere Patienten benötigten eine signifikant längere Behandlungszeit. / The aim of this study was to assess the treatment standards and treatment time in a university clinic. Pre-treatment and post-treatment study casts were assessed by the PAR (Peer Assessment Rating) Index. The influence of various factors upon treat- ment quality and treatment duration was analysed. The treatment records of 100 consecutively finished patients (62 females and 38 males) were evaluated retrospectively. The mean age was 14.9 years (7.4 42.2 years) at the pre-treatment stage. Most of the patients were between the ages of 9 and 10 years old, 24 patients were over the age of 18. At the start of treatment, 71 patients had an Angle Class II, 21 an Angle Class I and 8 patients an Angle Class III. There were 77 patients who failed at least once to show up for their appointments and 38 patients had negative chart entries regarding appliance wear. There was a wide range of appliance types used in this sample. The treatment involved fixed appliances for 95 patients. 52 patients were treated only with this type of appliance, 33 were treated with removable and fixed appliances successively and 5 patients were treated solely with removable functional appliances. 10 patients received combined orthodontic treatment and orthognatic surgery. 31 patients had extractions of permanent teeth as part of their treatment. The average pre- and post-treatment PAR scores were 23.9 and 5.2, repectively. The mean percentage reduction in PAR score was 75.6%. Post-treatment, 65 patients fell in the 0-5 PAR score group and 89 patients had a PAR score of 10 or less. However, only 4 patients scored 0 at the end of treatment. 33 patients have been "greatly im- proved", 65 patients "improved" and 2 ranked "worse or no different". Of all the fac- tors examined (type of therapy, extractions/agenesis, Angle Classes, compliance and gender) none showed a significant influence on post-treatment PAR scores. The mean treatment duration was 39.1 months (8 - 85 months). When treatment time was analysed, with all the factors examined (pre-treatment PAR score, type of treat- ment, extractions/agenesis, Angle Classes, compliance, gender and age at treatment start) only pre-treatment PAR score in the fixed appliance group, type of treatment, compliance and age at treatment start, were significantly related. As expected, the sequence of removable and fixed appliances required the longest treatment time (56.2 months). Fixed appliance therapy alone took 30.3 months, a combination of orthodontics and orthognatic surgery lasted for 27.1 months on average. Extractions and/or congenitally missing permanent teeth showed a tendency to higher treatment times. Inadequate compliance did significantly prolong treatment duration. Younger patients required longer treatment times.