Integrating guidelines and evaluations: The Swedish model for improving adherence to national guidelines in Parkinson’s Disease

Article type
Authors
Zingmark P1, Karlén A1, Gustafsson V1, Svanhagen A1
1The National Board of Health and Welfare
Abstract
Background: The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare works with the aim to establish good and equal healthcare in Sweden. In a decentralised healthcare system national guidelines provide steering. Further information on improvement areas from a steering perspective can, however, be achieved by combining the guidelines with indicators for assessments, target-levels and an evaluation of current performance using national patient registries.

Objectives:The aim is to establish good and equal healthcare in Sweden by increased adherence to the guideline for Parkinson’s Disease.

Methods: A standardised, systematic and transparent process to develop the guideline, which includes a body of scientific evidence with prioritised recommendations, indicators with target-levels and a national assessment and evaluation was used. These processes involve patients, professionals and decision-makers in the health care system. Evaluation was done based on different nationwide patient registries together with directed questionnaires.

Results: A guideline for Parkinson’s Disease with indicators for assessment, target-levels and a nation-wide evaluation was developed and published.

Conclusions:The integrated work provides best-available knowledge on methods to use but also on current performance in a healthcare area. As such it is a very valuable tool for health care providers working with development and improvement of healthcare.