Abstract
Aims: Printed materials are used to change behaviour yet evidence suggests they generally have little effect. This survey investigated the impact on GPs of reports from a Confidential Enquiry into Asthma Deaths.
Methods: A random sample of 1 in 4 general practitioners from East Anglia were sent a questionnaire, total = 306. 71% (218) completed the questionnaire.
Results: 80% (117) of those who read reports could identify risk factors for asthma death, compared to 22% (13) of those who had not read reports. The difference (58%) was highly statistically significant, p<0.0001 (95% C.I. 44% to 69%) even after adjusting for various confounding factors including interest in asthma. Furthermore, of those who had read a report, 53% stated these had altered their management of patients.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that locally-generated mailed guidance on a specific major health issue can have an important impact on knowledge and reported clinical practice.
Methods: A random sample of 1 in 4 general practitioners from East Anglia were sent a questionnaire, total = 306. 71% (218) completed the questionnaire.
Results: 80% (117) of those who read reports could identify risk factors for asthma death, compared to 22% (13) of those who had not read reports. The difference (58%) was highly statistically significant, p<0.0001 (95% C.I. 44% to 69%) even after adjusting for various confounding factors including interest in asthma. Furthermore, of those who had read a report, 53% stated these had altered their management of patients.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that locally-generated mailed guidance on a specific major health issue can have an important impact on knowledge and reported clinical practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 103-104 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Primary Care Respiratory Journal |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |