How Doctors in Charge of Medical Education Recognize and Use Clinical Practice Guidelines in Education: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of the recognition of the importance and the effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines with the use of them among doctors in charge of medical education.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on doctors in charge of medical education at Tokyo Women's Medical University. Multiple logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, and position was used to assess the association between the recognition and use of clinical practice guidelines for education among the participants.

Results: Data from 89 respondents (response rate: 72.4%) were analyzed. The odds ratios (ORs) for using the guidelines in lectures (OR = 4.19, p < 0.05) and clinical clerkships (OR = 4.26, p < 0.05) were significantly greater among doctors who thought that "clinical practice guidelines are important in medical education" compared with those who did not. The OR for using the guidelines in clinical clerkships was also significantly greater among doctors who thought that "clinical practice guidelines are effective in medical education" compared with those who did not (OR = 6.46, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that doctors who recognize the importance and effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines tend to use them more frequently in medical education.