Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Several qualitative and quantitative studies have been performed to understand the way family physicians apply knowledge from medical research in practice. Although the number of studies is steadily increasing on an international level, very little is known concerning family physicians in Switzerland. In an environment in which information constantly accumulates, it is crucial to identify the major sources of scientific information that are used by family physicians to keep their medical knowledge up to date and how they concretely use these sources.
Objectives: The main objective was to examine current knowledge tTranslation (KT) practices of family physicians in Switzerland and to identify potential processes to improve KT effectiveness.
Methods: The population consisted of French- and German-speaking private practice physicians specialising in primary care/family medicine. The interview guides of the semi-structured, open-ended interviews and focus groups focused on: 1) ways and means used by physicians to keep up to date with information relevant to clinical practice; 2) how they consider their role in translating knowledge into practic;e 3) potential barriers to KT; and 4) solutions proposed by physicians for effective KT.
Results: Four interviews and three focus groups (N = 25) were conducted. We found that family physicians consider themselves to be in an ambivalent position with KT based on scientific literature, but generally express much interest in KT. They often feel overwhelmed by 'information floods' and perceive clinical practice guidelines and other means of limited effectiveness for their practice. They often combine various formal and informal information sources to keep their knowledge up to date. Novel findings of our study include high demand for freely available evidenced-based information, a constant dependence on other actors in the healthcare system, as well as family physicians’ perceived passive role in science.
Conclusions: Improved performance of knowledge translation initiatives in family medicine should be tailored to actual needs and be based on a high quality evidence-based source.
Objectives: The main objective was to examine current knowledge tTranslation (KT) practices of family physicians in Switzerland and to identify potential processes to improve KT effectiveness.
Methods: The population consisted of French- and German-speaking private practice physicians specialising in primary care/family medicine. The interview guides of the semi-structured, open-ended interviews and focus groups focused on: 1) ways and means used by physicians to keep up to date with information relevant to clinical practice; 2) how they consider their role in translating knowledge into practic;e 3) potential barriers to KT; and 4) solutions proposed by physicians for effective KT.
Results: Four interviews and three focus groups (N = 25) were conducted. We found that family physicians consider themselves to be in an ambivalent position with KT based on scientific literature, but generally express much interest in KT. They often feel overwhelmed by 'information floods' and perceive clinical practice guidelines and other means of limited effectiveness for their practice. They often combine various formal and informal information sources to keep their knowledge up to date. Novel findings of our study include high demand for freely available evidenced-based information, a constant dependence on other actors in the healthcare system, as well as family physicians’ perceived passive role in science.
Conclusions: Improved performance of knowledge translation initiatives in family medicine should be tailored to actual needs and be based on a high quality evidence-based source.