TY - JOUR
T1 - Multifactorial barriers in the implementation of schizophrenia and psychosocial therapies guidelines
T2 - A quantitative study across different professions
AU - Gaigl, Gabriele
AU - Täumer, Esther
AU - Merz, Katharina
AU - Zöscher, Sabina
AU - Wagner, Sarah
AU - Kösters, Markus
AU - Falkai, Peter
AU - Leucht, Stefan
AU - Hasan, Alkomiet
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Background: Clinical guidelines can facilitate the transfer of scientific evidence into clinical practice, yet their implementation still faces difficulties. The aim of this study was to examine the implementation status of the current German evidence- and consensus-based guidelines for schizophrenia (2019) and psychosocial therapies (2019) and to identify barriers as well as facilitators in guideline adherence. Methods: We used a quantitative approach by developing an online questionnaire, focusing on the current implementation status as well as barriers and facilitators in guideline adherence. The questionnaire was sent to 100 hospitals for psychiatry and psychosomatics and 52 professional associations in mental healthcare in Germany (investigation period: 10/2019–01/2020). Results: In total, 657 mental healthcare professionals (MHCP, e.g. medical doctors, psychologists, psychosocial therapists, caregivers) provided sufficient responses for analyses. Less than half (47%) of our participants were aware of the existence of the guideline for psychosocial therapies, while 74% exhibited awareness of the schizophrenia guideline. A minority reported to adhere to the current guidelines for schizophrenia (41%) and psychosocial interventions (18%). Profession-related differences in the implementation-status were detected. Specifically, medical doctors exhibited higher awareness rates than psychosocial therapists and caregivers and additionally higher adherence rates than psychologists and caregivers. Medical doctors were less exposed to knowledge-related barriers (e.g. lack of guideline familiarity), while no differences across professions were found in external/behavior-related barriers (e.g. long versions). Discussion and conclusion: Our findings indicate that the implementation of guidelines as well as related barriers vary between professions. To prevent a growing gap in guideline adherence between MHCP, target-specific implementation strategies should be considered.
AB - Background: Clinical guidelines can facilitate the transfer of scientific evidence into clinical practice, yet their implementation still faces difficulties. The aim of this study was to examine the implementation status of the current German evidence- and consensus-based guidelines for schizophrenia (2019) and psychosocial therapies (2019) and to identify barriers as well as facilitators in guideline adherence. Methods: We used a quantitative approach by developing an online questionnaire, focusing on the current implementation status as well as barriers and facilitators in guideline adherence. The questionnaire was sent to 100 hospitals for psychiatry and psychosomatics and 52 professional associations in mental healthcare in Germany (investigation period: 10/2019–01/2020). Results: In total, 657 mental healthcare professionals (MHCP, e.g. medical doctors, psychologists, psychosocial therapists, caregivers) provided sufficient responses for analyses. Less than half (47%) of our participants were aware of the existence of the guideline for psychosocial therapies, while 74% exhibited awareness of the schizophrenia guideline. A minority reported to adhere to the current guidelines for schizophrenia (41%) and psychosocial interventions (18%). Profession-related differences in the implementation-status were detected. Specifically, medical doctors exhibited higher awareness rates than psychosocial therapists and caregivers and additionally higher adherence rates than psychologists and caregivers. Medical doctors were less exposed to knowledge-related barriers (e.g. lack of guideline familiarity), while no differences across professions were found in external/behavior-related barriers (e.g. long versions). Discussion and conclusion: Our findings indicate that the implementation of guidelines as well as related barriers vary between professions. To prevent a growing gap in guideline adherence between MHCP, target-specific implementation strategies should be considered.
KW - Barrier
KW - Guideline
KW - Implementation
KW - Profession
KW - Psychosocial therapies
KW - Schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100568899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2021.01.010
DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2021.01.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 33561620
AN - SCOPUS:85100568899
SN - 0920-9964
VL - 228
SP - 425
EP - 434
JO - Schizophrenia Research
JF - Schizophrenia Research
ER -