Implementing Research Findings into Practice Using Clinical Opinion Leaders: Barriers and Lessons Learned

Authors: Curran, Geoffrey M.; Thrush, Carol R.; Smith, Jeffrey L.; Owen, Richard R.; Ritchie, Mona; Chadwick, Dale

Source: Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, Volume 31, Number 12, December 2005 , pp. 700-707(8)

Publisher: Joint Commission Resources

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Abstract:

Background: An opinion leader-driven intervention to improve practice guideline–based medication management for patients with schizophrenia was tested at four Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities. The concept of using opinion leaders as disseminators of research evidence and internal agents of change has been widely reported.

Project Overview: Each intervention site received an intensive, multicomponent intervention during the course of one year. The project's process evaluation included ongoing brief surveys of physicians' attitudes and behaviors, logs of reports from opinion leader conference calls, and interviews with the opinion leaders toward the end of the implementation period.

Barriors or Issues and Potential Solutions: Several barriers or problematic issues surfaced: (1) physicians do not always agree on who is an opinion leader; some sites may have no opinion leader; (2) some sites had poorly developed formal and informal social networks among physicians; (3) a focus on physicians only as agents of change; and (4) how much directive should be given to the opinion leaders concerning how to influence attitudes and behaviors?

Discussion: Four major problematic issues encountered during the project offer potential solutions for addressing them.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2005-12-01

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Published monthly, The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to providing health professionals with the information they need to promote the quality and safety of health care. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety invites original manuscripts on the development, adaptation, and/or implementation of innovative thinking, strategies, and practices in improving quality and safety in health care. Case studies, program or project reports, reports of new methodologies or new applications of methodologies, research studies on the effectiveness of improvement interventions, and commentaries on issues and practices are all considered.

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Implementing Research Findings into Practice Using Clinical Opinion Leaders: Barriers and Lessons Learned

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