Table 1.

Summary of factors contributing to clinical inertia

Providers’ knowledge of and attitudes toward evidence-based guidelines	Providers’ own clinical judgment and experience in relation with specific situations	Providers’ awareness of patient attitudes, behaviors and preferences	Providers’ ability to make the appropriate decision within a given clinical and organizational context
(In)sufficient knowledge of guidelines (Dis)agreement with known guidelines (Dis)agreement with applicability of guidelines	Patients’ characteristics Patients’ medical factors and medical history	Providers’ acknowledgment of patient preferences Patient adherence Patient health literacy and empowerment	Reluctance to or difficulty associated with change Clinical uncertainty Limited time to handle a number of competing demands Organizational and structural factors