Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11641

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Buchan H.
Turning knowledge into action
Aust Prescr 2007 Oct; 30:114-5
http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazine/30/5/114/5/

Abstract:

Studies of healthcare provision show that many patients do not get care that is consistent with the best available evidence. A study of the care provided to several thousand people in the United States using telephone interviews and chart audit showed that, for a wide range of conditions, people received care consistent with best practice recommendations only 55% of the time. While prescribing showed higher rates of adherence to recommended care than interventions requiring counselling and education (69% vs 18%), substantial numbers of people were not receiving drugs that would be of benefit to them.1 Similar results have been found when auditing care provided by primary care physicians in the Netherlands.2 In Australia, more limited studies show that there is widespread underuse of many drugs, such as oral anticoagulants in people with atrial fibrillation, and ACE inhibitors and beta blockers in patients with heart failure. Conversely, there is also overuse of drugs in Australia, such as antibiotics for the common cold and acute bronchitis.3

Poor uptake of research findings is not confined to areas where discoveries are recent…

Keywords:
evidence-based medicine, guidelines

Notes:

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