Evidence-based design: the ACOEM Practice Guidelines Dissemination Project.

Abstract

A steering committee and investigators from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) designed and carried out the ACOEM Practice Guidelines Dissemination Project to encourage adoption of the ACOEM Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines. The project also involved research on guideline acceptance as well as potential improvements and additions to the guidelines. To increase guideline adoption and use in improving the appropriateness and consistency of practice and case management, the design was based on existing research on guideline format, education, and adoption efforts. This article summarizes that information and the needs assessment done prior to case-based guidelines training. Other articles in this issue report on guideline adoption and use and the results of the market research on the ACOEM guidelines.