TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers to ESC guideline implementation
T2 - results of a survey from the European Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (CCNAP)
AU - McKee, Gabrielle
AU - Kerins, Mary
AU - Hamilton, Glenys
AU - Hansen, Tina
AU - Hendriks, Jeroen
AU - Kletsiou, Eleni
AU - Lambrinou, Ekaterini
AU - Jennings, Catriona
AU - Fitzsimons, Donna
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Background: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has a comprehensive clinical guideline development programme, relevant for all clinicians. However, implementation of guidelines is not always optimal. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine nurses’ and allied professionals’ awareness and barriers regarding clinical guideline implementation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administrated online and in print at EuroHeartCare 2015. A questionnaire was developed which examined awareness and barriers to implementation of ESC guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (2012) and ESC guidelines in general. Results: Of the 298 respondents, 12% reported that the prevention guidelines were used in their practice area. Respondents identified, in order of magnitude, that lack of leadership, workload, time, resources and a perception that they were unable to influence current practice were barriers to the use of the prevention guidelines. When asked to rank barriers to use of any ESC guidelines, time (22%) and leadership (23%) were ranked highest. Conclusions: Implementation of ESC guidelines by nurses, the majority responders in this survey, is a serious problem, requiring urgent improvement to ensure patients receive optimal evidence based care. Issues of leadership, workload, time and resources are significant barriers to guideline implementation. It is of concern that these professionals perceive both that they have little influence on implementation decisions and lack of leadership regarding guideline implementation. Educational and organisational strategies to improve leadership skills are imperative. These will build self-efficacy and empower nurses and allied professionals to advocate for evidence-based care in the clinical environment.
AB - Background: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has a comprehensive clinical guideline development programme, relevant for all clinicians. However, implementation of guidelines is not always optimal. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine nurses’ and allied professionals’ awareness and barriers regarding clinical guideline implementation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administrated online and in print at EuroHeartCare 2015. A questionnaire was developed which examined awareness and barriers to implementation of ESC guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (2012) and ESC guidelines in general. Results: Of the 298 respondents, 12% reported that the prevention guidelines were used in their practice area. Respondents identified, in order of magnitude, that lack of leadership, workload, time, resources and a perception that they were unable to influence current practice were barriers to the use of the prevention guidelines. When asked to rank barriers to use of any ESC guidelines, time (22%) and leadership (23%) were ranked highest. Conclusions: Implementation of ESC guidelines by nurses, the majority responders in this survey, is a serious problem, requiring urgent improvement to ensure patients receive optimal evidence based care. Issues of leadership, workload, time and resources are significant barriers to guideline implementation. It is of concern that these professionals perceive both that they have little influence on implementation decisions and lack of leadership regarding guideline implementation. Educational and organisational strategies to improve leadership skills are imperative. These will build self-efficacy and empower nurses and allied professionals to advocate for evidence-based care in the clinical environment.
KW - barriers
KW - cardiac patients
KW - Clinical guidelines
KW - implementation
KW - prevention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85035116539&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1474515117710097
DO - 10.1177/1474515117710097
M3 - Article
C2 - 28498092
AN - SCOPUS:85035116539
VL - 16
SP - 678
EP - 686
JO - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
JF - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
SN - 1474-5151
IS - 8
ER -