Background
The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) is the professional body for general practice in Ireland, with approximately 5,000 GP members. It develops and publishes Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) for general practitioners (GPs) to provide research evidence updates. QRG topics are chosen informally, with significant heterogeneity in presentation, and are disseminated via the ICGP website. The aim of this study is to prioritise QRG content and consider how best to disseminate for use in clinical practice.
Methods & Results
Objective 1: To review evidence-based guides published by international GP organisations. Approach: To perform a mapping exercise of international GP professional organisations that publish evidence-based guides. Analysis: organisational characteristics, methods and topics covered and approach to dissemination will be extracted.
Objectives 2 and 3: To perform a needs assessment of ICGP members in order to establish a priority list for QRG content, to optimise presentation and develop a dissemination strategy. Approach: a) Develop and administer a web-based survey eliciting GP needs and preferences on QRG content and dissemination. Analysis: Data will be collated, analysed and results generated using descriptive statistics. b) Conduct GP focus groups to explore ways to optimise QRG structure, presentation and dissemination. Analysis: Data will be explored using the framework approach. Themes will be identified and collated.
Objective 4: To develop and pilot a new QRG with linked dissemination materials on a sample of GPs who will be asked to provide feedback on content, ease of use and clinical utility.
Discussion
This research has the potential to be translated into general practice, across the medium (1-3 years) and longer-term. The ICGP is uniquely placed to set educational policy. Supporting the educational needs of GPs ascertained through comprehensive needs assessment and disseminating QRGs effectively has real potential to impact on patient care.
