What's the evidence that NICE guidance has been implemented? Results from a national evaluation using time series analysis, audit of patients' notes, and interviews

Sheldon, Trevor A., Cullum, Nicky, Dawson, Diane, Lankshear, Annette Jean ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2418-3783, Lowson, Karin, Watt, Ian, West, Peter, Wright, Dianne and Wright, John 2004. What's the evidence that NICE guidance has been implemented? Results from a national evaluation using time series analysis, audit of patients' notes, and interviews. BMJ 329 (7473) , 999. 10.1136/bmj.329.7473.999

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Abstract

Objectives To assess the extent and pattern of implementation of guidance issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Design Interrupted time series analysis, review of case notes, survey, and interviews. Setting Acute and primary care trusts in England and Wales. Participants All primary care prescribing, hospital pharmacies; a random sample of 20 acute trusts, 17 mental health trusts, and 21 primary care trusts; and senior clinicians and managers from five acute trusts. Main outcome measures Rates of prescribing and use of procedures and medical devices relative to evidence based guidance. Results 6308 usable patient audit forms were returned. Implementation of NICE guidance varied by trust and by topic. Prescribing of some taxanes for cancer (P < 0.002) and orlistat for obesity (P < 0.001) significantly increased in line with guidance. Prescribing of drugs for Alzheimer's disease and prophylactic extraction of wisdom teeth showed trends consistent with, but not obviously a consequence of, the guidance. Prescribing practice often did not accord with the details of the guidance. No change was apparent in the use of hearing aids, hip prostheses, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, laparoscopic hernia repair, and laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery after NICE guidance had been issued. Conclusions Implementation of NICE guidance has been variable. Guidance seems more likely to be adopted when there is strong professional support, a stable and convincing evidence base, and no increased or unfunded costs, in organisations that have established good systems for tracking guidance implementation and where the professionals involved are not isolated. Guidance needs to be clear and reflect the clinical context.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Additional Information:	8 Page Article. Publisher’s copyright requirements: “authors may use their own articles for the following non commercial purposes without asking our permission (and subject only to acknowledging first publication in the BMJ and giving a full reference or web link, as appropriate). Posting a pdf of their own article on their own personal or institutional website for which no charge for access is made. Etc.” See: http://resources.bmj.com/bmj/authors/editorial-policies/copyright
ISSN:	0959-8138
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 12:27
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/764

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