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Cited by 222Healthcare cost, quality, practicesRadiology practices and educationClinical practice guidelines implementation

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 31 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Effect of audit and feedback, and reminder messages on primary-care radiology referrals: a randomised trial

Open access
Eccles, Martin, Steen, Nick, Grimshaw, Jeremy, Thomas, Lois, McNamee, Paul, Soutter, Jennifer, Wilsdon, John, Matowe, Lloyd, Needham, Gillian, Gilbert, Fiona, Bond, Senga·2001·The Lancet
DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(00)04564-5
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Abstract

Background Radiological tests are often used by general practitioners (GPs). These tests can be overused and contribute little to clinical management. We aimed to assess two methods of reducing GP requests for radiological tests in accordance with the UK Royal College of Radiologists' guidelines on lumbar spine and knee radiographs. Methods We assessed audit and feedback, and educational reminder messages in six radiology departments and 244 general practices that they served. The study was a before-and-after, pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial with a 232 factorial design. A random subset of GP patients' records were examined for concordance with the guidelines. The main outcome measure was number of radiograph requests per 1000 patients per year. Analysis was by intention to treat. Findings The effect of educational reminder messages (ie, the change in request rate after intervention) was an absolute change of -1.53 (95% CI -2.5 to -0.57) for lumbar spine and of -1.61 (-2.6 to -0.62) for knee radiographs, both relative reductions of about 20%. The effect of audit and feedback was an absolute change of -0.07 (-1.3 to 0.9) for lumbar spine of 0.04 (-0.95 to 1.03) for knee radiograph requests, both relative reductions of about 1%. Concordance between groups did not differ significantly. Interpretation 6-monthly feedback of audit data is ineffective but the routine attachment of educational reminder messages to radiographs is effective and does not affect quality of referrals. Any department of radiology that handles referrals from primary care could deliver this intervention to good effect.

Overview

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0140-6736(00)04564-5

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  1. 1994, Implementing clinical practice guidelines: can guidelines be used to improve clinical practice?, Effect Health Care, 8, 1

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Metadata

Authors
Eccles, M., Steen, N., Grimshaw, J., Thomas, L., McNamee, P., Soutter, J., Wilsdon, J., Matowe, L., Needham, G., Gilbert, F., & Bond, S.
Affiliations
  • Newcastle University (GB)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital (GB)
  • Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (GB)
Corresponding author
Eccles, Martin
ORCID
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2001-05
Volume
357
Issue
9266
Pages
1406-1409
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
DOI
10.1016/s0140-6736(00)04564-5
OpenAlex
W2123697166
Cited by
222
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
FWCI
23.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CLOK (University of Central Lancashire) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
Royal College of Radiologists
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare cost, quality, practices
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Radiology practices and education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Clinical practice guidelines implementation
Keywords
audit and feedback, lumbar spine radiographs, knee radiographs, guideline adherence, general practitioners, radiology department
MeSH terms
Adult, England, Family Practice, Feedback, Humans, Knee, Lumbar Vertebrae, Radiography, Referral and Consultation, Scotland, Cluster Analysis, Reminder Systems, Practice Guidelines as Topic

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