[Barriers to guideline adherence : Identification of barriers to guideline adherence using a survey on the AWMF S3 guideline epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management of uncomplicated bacterial, community-acquired urinary tract infections in adult patients]. / Barrieren der Leitlinienadhärenz : Identifizierung von Barrieren der Leitlinienadhärenz am Beispiel einer Umfrage zur AWMF-S3-Leitlinie Epidemiologie, Diagnostik, Therapie und Management unkomplizierter bakterieller ambulant erworbener Harnwegsinfektionen bei erwachsenen Patienten.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that nonadherence to guidelines is pretty common in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). However, no urological study has raised the question, what are barriers or reasons for this nonadherence, yet. OBJECTIVES: Consequently, we performed a survey among German urologists with the primary endpoint identification of barriers for nonadherence to German guidelines on UTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 19-item questionnaire was developed and transferred to the online portal "Survey Monkey®" (Private Equity, San Mateo, CA, USA) and tested for usability by our study group. The link for the survey was sent twice to the members of the German Society of Urology (DGU). RESULTS: Overall, 307 questionnaires were completed. The mean age of the study population was 46.7 years (standard deviation 11.5). The majority (34.9%) followed guidelines in 80% of the cases. Main reasons for nonadherence on the physicians' side were 23.4% personal experience and lacking practicality of UTI guidelines on the individual complex patient. On the open questions urologists mostly stated (11.7%) that the main reason on the physician side for nonadherence is ignorance. Therefore they, in open questions, suggest to promote guidelines more in meetings and more designed practically with shortcuts and simple layout. Patient-associated factors mentioned were mostly in 26.7%. Furthermore, German urologists stated that guidelines should also have a patient section, where the main recommendations are explained in plain language. CONCLUSION: We performed the first survey on identifying barriers for nonadherence to guidelines in urology. Despite some limitations, our results are very important for the further design of guidelines. This has the potential to improve guideline adherence.

Nuts and bolts issues to consider when selling your practice.

Ten issues are provided that will help physicians and administrators through the process of selling a practice. Those issues include determining the buyers reasons for buying, determine your reason for selling, finding the right people, how the buyer is valuing your practice, how you value your practice, preparing the selling package, employment agreements and compensation packages, negotiating the operating contract, tax consequences and knowing when to walk away from the deal.