TY - JOUR

T1 - Academic detailing has no effect on prescribing of astma medication in Danish general practice

T2 - A 3-year randomized controlled trial with 12-monthly follow-ups

AU - Witt, Klaus

AU - Knudsen, Erik

AU - Ditlevsen, Susanne

AU - Hollnagel, Hanne

PY - 2004/6/1

Y1 - 2004/6/1

N2 - Background. Educational outreach visits, particularly when combined with social marketing, appear to be a promising approach to modifying health professional behaviour, especially prescribing. Results from previous studies have shown a varying effect. Objective. The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of academic detailing as a method of implementing a clinical guideline in general practice. Methods. A cluster randomized, controlled, blinded study was carried out of the effect of an academic detail visit compared with postal distribution of a guideline for prescribing asthma medication. Half the practices in a Danish county with 100 practices were visited once. The outcome measure was routinely collected data from all Danish pharmacies on the sales of asthma medication. Data were collected monthly for 2 years before to 1 year after the intervention. Results. There was no effect on the pattern of prescription of asthma medicines following the visit, neither immediately nor long term. Conclusion. We found no effect of academic detailing as a single intervention.

AB - Background. Educational outreach visits, particularly when combined with social marketing, appear to be a promising approach to modifying health professional behaviour, especially prescribing. Results from previous studies have shown a varying effect. Objective. The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of academic detailing as a method of implementing a clinical guideline in general practice. Methods. A cluster randomized, controlled, blinded study was carried out of the effect of an academic detail visit compared with postal distribution of a guideline for prescribing asthma medication. Half the practices in a Danish county with 100 practices were visited once. The outcome measure was routinely collected data from all Danish pharmacies on the sales of asthma medication. Data were collected monthly for 2 years before to 1 year after the intervention. Results. There was no effect on the pattern of prescription of asthma medicines following the visit, neither immediately nor long term. Conclusion. We found no effect of academic detailing as a single intervention.

KW - Asthma

KW - Continuing medical education

KW - Family practice

KW - Practice guidelines

KW - Randomized controlled trial

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2942637494&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/fampra/cmh306

DO - 10.1093/fampra/cmh306

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 15128684

AN - SCOPUS:2942637494

VL - 21

SP - 248

EP - 253

JO - Family Practice

JF - Family Practice

SN - 0263-2136

IS - 3

ER -