Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional Study

Objectives: To assess the adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and explore the barriers to their implementation among primary care physicians (PCPs) in Bahrain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey among physicians working in 20 randomly selected public s...

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Main Authors: Dhabya Al Sada, Yusra Irshad Husain, Zainab Al Misbah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oman Medical Specialty Board 2023-07-01
Series:Oman Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://omjournal.org/articleDetails.aspx?coType=1&aId=3499
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author Dhabya Al Sada
Yusra Irshad Husain
Zainab Al Misbah
author_facet Dhabya Al Sada
Yusra Irshad Husain
Zainab Al Misbah
author_sort Dhabya Al Sada
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: To assess the adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and explore the barriers to their implementation among primary care physicians (PCPs) in Bahrain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey among physicians working in 20 randomly selected public sector primary health centers in Bahrain. Private-sector physicians and family medicine residents were excluded. Outcome measures were assessing the extent of adherence to CPGs, describing the results in association with work roles, gender, level of formal training, and years of working experience, and investigating the barriers to adhering to CPGs. Results: The subjects were 149 PCPs (consultants, specialists, and general practitioners) working in government primary health centers. The vast majority (98.0%) reported that they implemented CPGs in their daily practice. The most commonly cited reason (79.2%) for implementation was that the CPGs were evidence-based. The most implemented guidelines pertained to diabetes (91.3%), hypertension (81.2%), and hyperlipidemia (69.8%). The least implemented ones were screening of women (38.9%) and postnatal care (45.6%). The level of formal medical training was associated with the implementation of CPGs on preventive care, antenatal and postnatal care, and children and women screening (p < 0.05). Hypertension and bronchial asthma guidelines were implemented more by male physicians (p< 0.05) while female physicians were more adherent to CPGs on antenatal and postnatal care, and women and child screening (p < 0.05). The main barrier reported by the physicians was that they wished to know more about CPGs before applying them (mean ± SD = 3.8 ± 0.9). The perception that managers or directors are non-cooperative towards the application of CPGs was associated with years of experience (p =0.008) and the position of the physician (p =0.028). General practitioners were more likely to consider non-cooperation from patients as a barrier (p =0.025). Conclusions: Most PCPs in Bahrain are adherent to CPGs in their daily practice and encounter minimal barriers. Identifying and resolving barriers can help develop unified and standardized guidelines that promote better consistency in patient management, minimize medical errors, and conserve resources.
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spelling doaj.art-b37c22f6d7cf480d8aa635848678fa782023-09-14T06:42:23ZengOman Medical Specialty BoardOman Medical Journal1999-768X2070-52042023-07-01384e527e52710.5001/omj.2023.84Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional StudyDhabya Al Sada0Yusra Irshad Husain1Zainab Al Misbah2Family Medicine Clinic, NBB Arad Health Center, Ministry of Health, Sanabis, BahrainFamily Medicine Clinic, Muharraq Health Center, Ministry of Health, Sanabis, BahrainFamily Medicine Clinic, Muharraq Health Center, Ministry of Health, Sanabis, BahrainObjectives: To assess the adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and explore the barriers to their implementation among primary care physicians (PCPs) in Bahrain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey among physicians working in 20 randomly selected public sector primary health centers in Bahrain. Private-sector physicians and family medicine residents were excluded. Outcome measures were assessing the extent of adherence to CPGs, describing the results in association with work roles, gender, level of formal training, and years of working experience, and investigating the barriers to adhering to CPGs. Results: The subjects were 149 PCPs (consultants, specialists, and general practitioners) working in government primary health centers. The vast majority (98.0%) reported that they implemented CPGs in their daily practice. The most commonly cited reason (79.2%) for implementation was that the CPGs were evidence-based. The most implemented guidelines pertained to diabetes (91.3%), hypertension (81.2%), and hyperlipidemia (69.8%). The least implemented ones were screening of women (38.9%) and postnatal care (45.6%). The level of formal medical training was associated with the implementation of CPGs on preventive care, antenatal and postnatal care, and children and women screening (p < 0.05). Hypertension and bronchial asthma guidelines were implemented more by male physicians (p< 0.05) while female physicians were more adherent to CPGs on antenatal and postnatal care, and women and child screening (p < 0.05). The main barrier reported by the physicians was that they wished to know more about CPGs before applying them (mean ± SD = 3.8 ± 0.9). The perception that managers or directors are non-cooperative towards the application of CPGs was associated with years of experience (p =0.008) and the position of the physician (p =0.028). General practitioners were more likely to consider non-cooperation from patients as a barrier (p =0.025). Conclusions: Most PCPs in Bahrain are adherent to CPGs in their daily practice and encounter minimal barriers. Identifying and resolving barriers can help develop unified and standardized guidelines that promote better consistency in patient management, minimize medical errors, and conserve resources.https://omjournal.org/articleDetails.aspx?coType=1&aId=3499family physiciansguideline adherenceimplementationbarriersbahrain
spellingShingle Dhabya Al Sada
Yusra Irshad Husain
Zainab Al Misbah
Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional Study
Oman Medical Journal
family physicians
guideline adherence
implementation
barriers
bahrain
title Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional Study
title_short Assessing Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Primary Care Physicians in Bahrain: A Cross-sectional Study
title_sort assessing adherence to clinical practice guidelines among primary care physicians in bahrain a cross sectional study
topic family physicians
guideline adherence
implementation
barriers
bahrain
url https://omjournal.org/articleDetails.aspx?coType=1&aId=3499
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AT yusrairshadhusain assessingadherencetoclinicalpracticeguidelinesamongprimarycarephysiciansinbahrainacrosssectionalstudy
AT zainabalmisbah assessingadherencetoclinicalpracticeguidelinesamongprimarycarephysiciansinbahrainacrosssectionalstudy