Attitudes and experiences of the Serbian Medical Society members concerning the clinical practice guidelines

Abstract

Introduction/Objective The Academy of Medical Sciences of the Serbian Medical Society (SMS) carried a survey on clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) among doctors, members of the SMS with the aim of examining use and attitude of doctors on CPGs.

Methods We obtained the addresses of 2876 members of 20 SMS sections randomly-selected from a total of 62 SMS sections. Out of all invited members 482 (16.8%) responded. Self-administered questionnaire survey consisted of 21 questions that included demographic information, sources of informing and doctors’ experience with CPGs, their use and barriers to CPGs use.

Results Among the 482 respondents there were significantly more women (64.1%) than men, majority were aged 45–60 years, 411 (85.3%) of them were employed in public health institutions and most were specialists. Respondents were informed about CPGs at meetings (30.9%), from the literature (16.3%), from both sources (17.5%), during studies (20%), but 7% of them were not informed so far. Almost all (452) respondents agree that CPGs are useful, 150 use national, 76 international, and 213 both. During the last year, 101 (21%) of respondents did not use any CPGs. The main reasons for not using the CPGs are lack of information and difficult access to CPGs.

Conclusions The respondents consider CPGs useful for practice. Lack of information about CPGs and access to them was found as the main barrier for their use. It obligates the continuous preparation of CPGs and regular and efficient notification of doctors about them.

Keywords: clinical practice guidelines; survey; attitude; barriers