Table 1.

Study descriptions

Author	Condition	Topic of guideline	Participants, sample frame	Sample size	Outcome measure	Measurement validation	Publication of guideline	Time of study
Beaulieu et al, 20055	Medical treatment of stable angina	Prescription for aspirin Favour β blockers as first choice anti-angina drug Control LDL cholesterol	Random, stratified sample of 1/3 family physicians, all cardiology and internal medicine specialists in Quebec, Canada	1228	Mailed self-report survey	Based on Pathman's questionnaire	February 1999 Quebec College of Physicians mailed one page summary	May 1999
Cabana et al, 20076	Medical treatment of children with asthma	Prescribing inhaled corticosteroids for children with persistent asthma symptoms	National, random cross-sectional survey of paediatricians and family physicians, from American Medical Association (AMA) master file of US physicians	694	Mailed self report survey, two follow-up surveys, telephone call	Based on literature review and physician focus groups	2002 update National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute Asthma Guidelines	September–November 2004
Cruz-Correa et al, 20017	Screening for Barrett's oesophagus	Screening for Barrett's oesophagus in patients with 1. no dysplasia 2. low grade dysplasia	Stratified random sampling of members of three specialty organisations, excluding those in training programmes and retired specialists	235	Mailed self-report survey with three case scenarios, two follow-up surveys	Survey and case scenarios used at baseline and follow-up 19–22 months later	August 1998 guidelines developed by American College of Gastroenterology	October 1999–January 2000
Erhardt et al, 20088	Medical management of patients with chronic heart failure	Agreement with guidelines for pharmacotherapy	Random identification from research database of cardiologists in seven western European countries, according to specific inclusion criteria, country quotas	484	On-line survey including three case scenarios, translated	Validated and piloted in face-to-face interviews	2005 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for chronic heart failure	Not recorded
Freed et al, 19949	Immunisation of infants	Universal hepatitis B immunisation of infants	All paediatricians and random sample of family physicians in North Carolina, USA	591	Mailed self-report survey, two follow-up surveys	First survey repeated, used as pilot	November 1991 ACIP February 1992 AAP August 1992 AAFP	September–October 1992
Gentile et al, 200410	Well child visits to paediatricians	Limit children's media time Discourage TV viewing among children <2 years Encourage alternative entertainment for children	All members of the Minnesota chapter of American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP)	899	Mailed self report survey, three reminders	Survey designed by authors	February 2001 AAP media use guidelines	July–October 2002
Heneghan et al, 200711	Management of hypertension	Adjust blood pressure for home/self monitoring Measure blood pressure both arms Provide verbal lifestyle advice Provide written lifestyle advice Annual review of patients with mild hypertension Statin therapy for primary prevention	Survey of all UK general practitioners registered on http://www.doctors.net.uk, an online organisation for UK doctors	800	Internet survey, presented as a link in a targeted electronic bulletin	Adapted and piloted from Pathman's original questionnaire	2004 Guidelines from British Hypertension Society Guidelines	May 2006
Pathman et al, 19963	Paediatric vaccine recommendations	Second dose of measles vaccine Haemophilus influenza type B (HIB) at 2 months Universal hepatitis B immunisation of all infants Acellular vaccine for 4th and 5th pertussis dose	Random selection from AMA's master file of family physicians and paediatricians in nine US locations, stratified for community size	2146	Mailed self-report survey, two follow-up p surveys	Survey instrument pilot tested with 100 paediatricians and family physicians	1988–2nd dose of measles 1990–HIB at 2 months 1992-universal Hep B 1992–acellular pertussis vaccine 4,5 dose	October 1993–January 1994
Pitimana-Aree et al, 200712	Anaesthetic practice	Conscious sedation Provision of anaesthesia Pre-anaesthetic evaluation Labour analgesia Emergency endotracheal intubation Spinal anaesthesia	National survey, based on college list of anaesthesiologists (600) and nurse anaesthetists (1300) in Thailand	1900	Mailed self-report survey	Not described	2006—Royal College of Anaesthesiologists of Thailand proposed and revised six guidelines	Not recorded
Weyman et al, 199513	Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection	Selective screening of asymptomatic women	All registered staff physicians and residents working in six hospital family practice teaching units in downtown Toronto	153	Mailed self-report survey with case scenarios, one reminder	Literature search guided development of questionnaire	November 1989 Canadian guidelines mailed to all practising physicians in Canada	December 1990
Zimmerman et al, 200414	Influenza vaccination for elderly adults	Recommend vaccination of elderly patients with asthma	Stratified random sample of primary care clinicians from Veterans Affairs (VA) practices in USA Random sample of approx 22 patients of each clinician, minimum 15 completed patient interviews per clinician	71 clinicians 925 patients aged 65 or over	Physicians: personal interview+self report survey Patients: telephone questionnaire+self report of 1999–2000 influenza vaccination	Based on Precede—Proceed model, Awareness-to-adherence model included as predisposing factors Piloting occurred	2000—CDC Guidelines for vaccinating elderly adults	August 1999–February 2000