Meeting physicians' needs: a bottom-up approach for improving the implementation of medical knowledge into practice

doi:10.1186/s12961-016-0120-5

. 2016 Jul 18;14(1):49.

doi: 10.1186/s12961-016-0120-5.

Meeting physicians' needs: a bottom-up approach for improving the implementation of medical knowledge into practice

Carla Vaucher^{1

2}, Emilie Bovet^{3

4}, Theresa Bengough⁵, Vincent Pidoux^{6

7}, Michèle Grossen⁶, Francesco Panese^{8

7}, Bernard Burnand^{3

9}

Affiliations

¹ Healthcare Evaluation Unit, Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Biopôle 2, Rte de la Corniche 10, CH-1010, Lausanne, Switzerland. carla.vaucher@chuv.ch.
² Liaison Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. carla.vaucher@chuv.ch.
³ Healthcare Evaluation Unit, Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Biopôle 2, Rte de la Corniche 10, CH-1010, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ University of Health Sciences (HESAV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁵ Austrian Federal Institute of Healthcare (ÖBIG), 1010, Vienna, Austria.
⁶ Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁷ STS Lab, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁸ University Institute of the History of Medicine and Public Health, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁹ Cochrane Switzerland, Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.

PMID: 27431911
PMCID: PMC4949753
DOI: 10.1186/s12961-016-0120-5

Meeting physicians' needs: a bottom-up approach for improving the implementation of medical knowledge into practice

Carla Vaucher et al. Health Res Policy Syst. 2016.

. 2016 Jul 18;14(1):49.

doi: 10.1186/s12961-016-0120-5.

Authors

Carla Vaucher^{1

2}, Emilie Bovet^{3

4}, Theresa Bengough⁵, Vincent Pidoux^{6

7}, Michèle Grossen⁶, Francesco Panese^{8

7}, Bernard Burnand^{3

9}

Affiliations

¹ Healthcare Evaluation Unit, Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Biopôle 2, Rte de la Corniche 10, CH-1010, Lausanne, Switzerland. carla.vaucher@chuv.ch.
² Liaison Psychiatry, Service of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. carla.vaucher@chuv.ch.
³ Healthcare Evaluation Unit, Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Biopôle 2, Rte de la Corniche 10, CH-1010, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ University of Health Sciences (HESAV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁵ Austrian Federal Institute of Healthcare (ÖBIG), 1010, Vienna, Austria.
⁶ Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁷ STS Lab, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁸ University Institute of the History of Medicine and Public Health, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁹ Cochrane Switzerland, Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.

PMID: 27431911
PMCID: PMC4949753
DOI: 10.1186/s12961-016-0120-5

Abstract

Background: Multiple barriers to knowledge translation in medicine have been identified (ranging from information overload to abstraction of models), leading to important implementation gaps. This study aimed at assessing the suggestions of practicing physicians for possible improvements of knowledge translation (KT) effectiveness into clinical practice.

Methods: We used a mixed methods design. French- German- and Italian-speaking general practitioners, psychiatrists, orthopaedic surgeons, cardiologists, and diabetologists practicing in Switzerland were interrogated through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and an online survey.

Results: A total of 985 physicians from three regions of Switzerland participated in the online survey, whereas 39 participated in focus group discussions and 14 in face-to-face interviews. Physicians expressed limitations and difficulties related to KT into their daily practice. Several barriers were identified, including influence and pressure of pharmaceutical companies, non-publication of negative results, mismatch between guidelines and practice, education gaps, and insufficient collaboration between research and practice. Suggestions to overcome barriers were improving education concerning the evaluation of scientific publications, expanding applicability of guidelines, having free and easy access to independent journals, developing collaborations between research and practice, and creating tools to facilitate access to medical information.

Conclusions: Our study provides suggestions for improving KT into daily medical practice, matching the views, needs and preferences of practicing physicians. Responding to suggestions for improvements brought up by physicians may lead to better knowledge translation, higher professional satisfaction, and better healthcare outcomes.

Keywords: Focus group discussions; Improvements; Interviews; Knowledge translation and implementation; Online survey; Physicians; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative methods.

PubMed Disclaimer

Cited by

Interdisciplinary teamworking in rehabilitation: experiences of change initiators in a national rehabilitation hospital.
Christophers L, Torok Z, Trayer A, Hong GC, Carroll A. Christophers L, et al. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025 May 7;25(1):651. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12795-6. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025. PMID: 40329284 Free PMC article.
The impact of a meta-analysis on orthopaedic surgeons' practice with regards to vancomycin graft pre-soaking in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A paper questionnaire survey study.
Kuršumović K, Charalambous CP. Kuršumović K, et al. Health Sci Rep. 2022 Dec 25;6(1):e1009. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.1009. eCollection 2023 Jan. Health Sci Rep. 2022. PMID: 36582630 Free PMC article.
Implementing an initiative promote evidence-informed practice: part 2-healthcare professionals' perspectives of the evidence rounds programme.
Conway A, Dowling M, Devane D. Conway A, et al. BMC Med Educ. 2019 Mar 6;19(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s12909-019-1488-z. BMC Med Educ. 2019. PMID: 30841872 Free PMC article.
Knowledge mobilisation: an ethnographic study of the influence of practitioner mindlines on atopic eczema self-management in primary care in the UK.
Cowdell F. Cowdell F. BMJ Open. 2019 Jul 26;9(7):e025220. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025220. BMJ Open. 2019. PMID: 31350238 Free PMC article.
Healthcare professionals' sources of knowledge of complementary medicine in an academic center.
Aveni E, Bauer B, Ramelet AS, Decosterd I, Ballabeni P, Bonvin E, Rodondi PY. Aveni E, et al. PLoS One. 2017 Sep 29;12(9):e0184979. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184979. eCollection 2017. PLoS One. 2017. PMID: 28961256 Free PMC article.

See all "Cited by" articles

References

1. Greenhalgh T, Wieringa S. Is it time to drop the ‘knowledge translation’ metaphor? A critical literature review. J R Soc Med. 2011;104(12):501–9. doi: 10.1258/jrsm.2011.110285. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Lugtenberg M, Zegers-van Schaick JM, Westert GP, Burgers JS. Why don’t physicians adhere to guideline recommendations in practice? An analysis of barriers among Dutch general practitioners. Implement Sci. 2009;4:54. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-54. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Sekimoto M, Imanaka Y, Kitano N, Ishizaki T, Takahashi O. Why are physicians not persuaded by scientific evidence? A grounded theory interview study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2006;6:92. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-6-92. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Graham ID, Logan J, Harrison MB, Straus SE, Tetroe J, Caswell W, et al. Lost in knowledge translation: time for a map? J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2006;26(1):13–24. doi: 10.1002/chp.47. - DOI - PubMed
1. Adeodu A, Agius R, Madan I. Attitudes and barriers to evidence-based guidelines among UK occupational physicians. Occup Med. 2009;59(8):586–92. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqp121. - DOI - PubMed

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
- scite Smart Citations

[1] Greenhalgh T, Wieringa S. Is it time to drop the ‘knowledge translation’ metaphor? A critical literature review. J R Soc Med. 2011;104(12):501–9. doi: 10.1258/jrsm.2011.110285. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Greenhalgh T, Wieringa S. Is it time to drop the ‘knowledge translation’ metaphor? A critical literature review. J R Soc Med. 2011;104(12):501–9. doi: 10.1258/jrsm.2011.110285. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Lugtenberg M, Zegers-van Schaick JM, Westert GP, Burgers JS. Why don’t physicians adhere to guideline recommendations in practice? An analysis of barriers among Dutch general practitioners. Implement Sci. 2009;4:54. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-54. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Lugtenberg M, Zegers-van Schaick JM, Westert GP, Burgers JS. Why don’t physicians adhere to guideline recommendations in practice? An analysis of barriers among Dutch general practitioners. Implement Sci. 2009;4:54. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-54. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Sekimoto M, Imanaka Y, Kitano N, Ishizaki T, Takahashi O. Why are physicians not persuaded by scientific evidence? A grounded theory interview study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2006;6:92. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-6-92. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Sekimoto M, Imanaka Y, Kitano N, Ishizaki T, Takahashi O. Why are physicians not persuaded by scientific evidence? A grounded theory interview study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2006;6:92. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-6-92. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Graham ID, Logan J, Harrison MB, Straus SE, Tetroe J, Caswell W, et al. Lost in knowledge translation: time for a map? J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2006;26(1):13–24. doi: 10.1002/chp.47. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Graham ID, Logan J, Harrison MB, Straus SE, Tetroe J, Caswell W, et al. Lost in knowledge translation: time for a map? J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2006;26(1):13–24. doi: 10.1002/chp.47. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Adeodu A, Agius R, Madan I. Attitudes and barriers to evidence-based guidelines among UK occupational physicians. Occup Med. 2009;59(8):586–92. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqp121. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Adeodu A, Agius R, Madan I. Attitudes and barriers to evidence-based guidelines among UK occupational physicians. Occup Med. 2009;59(8):586–92. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqp121. - DOI - PubMed

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

Meeting physicians' needs: a bottom-up approach for improving the implementation of medical knowledge into practice

Affiliations

Meeting physicians' needs: a bottom-up approach for improving the implementation of medical knowledge into practice

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Similar articles

Cited by

References

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources