The primary health care (PHC) experience with evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in Saudi Arabia (SA)

Tags: Poster
Al-Ansary L1, Wahabi H1, Adi Y1, Bawazeer G1, Al-Zeidan R1, Al-Ghamdi E2, Al-Safi Y2, Marshall C3
1King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, 2Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, 3Independent Health Consultant, New Zealand

Background: PHC was adopted by the SA ministry of health in 1981. Around 2100 PHC centers are distributed throughout the Kingdom. Only three nationally-endorsed CPGs are available for use.

Objectives: In order to reduce the variation in care and to realize the national and international accreditation standards, a fast-track method is introduced to have 20 evidence-based (EB) CPGs up and running in 6 months.

Methods: Repeated Delphi technique was used among middle level managers in all regions to identify the top priorities for CPGs in PHC. A three-parts course was delivered to 80 Selected PHC physicians (4 from each region). In the first part (held January 2012), the participants were introduced to the concept of EB-CPGs, searching for, assessing and selecting potential high-quality CPGs published 2007 onwards to be considered for localization. The ADAPTE manual was the main reference used. Part 2 (held February 2012) addressed implementation methods and strategies. Part 3 will be held in May 2012.

Results: Most of the 20 groups grasped the concepts introduced part 1 and presented their CPG draft reports in part 2. In May, they are expected to present their final drafts and report on their pilot implementation projects.

Conclusions: This model has the advantages of being quick, practical with a sense of ownership by PHC physicians. The long-term impact of this new experience on patient-related outcomes would have to be assessed before considering it successful. Implications: The innovative model must be replicated in other countries to assess its validity.