GuideGap: Guideline adherent prescribing and factors explaining deviations

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Project

01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026

Department of Health and Social Management, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

Information People

Funders

Leaders

Virva Hyttinen-Huotari

Assistant Professor

Department of Health and Social Management, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

The aim of the mixed-method GuideGap project is to assess the extent to which prescription practices deviate from the national Current Care (Käypä hoito) guidelines and Choosing Wisely (Vältä viisaasti) recommendations, and to identify the potential root causes underlying these deviations.

In this research project, we utilise population-based register data to examine adherence to Current Care guidelines in the pharmacological treatment of major chronic diseases. In addition, we evaluate compliance with Choosing Wisely recommendations in the management of cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders. A key focus is the relationship between prescribing practices and relational continuity of care, as we as the potential direct and indirect costs related to non-adherence.

Our aim is to identify facilitators or barriers of guideline-adherent prescribing. In autumn 2025, we conducted a national physician survey in collaboration with the Finnish Medical Association. To support the development of the survey instrument, we carried out a systematic review to examine differences between implementation and de-implementation. To deepen our understanding of the root causes of deviations from clinical guidelines, we complement register-based and survey data with qualitative analyses. The findings of this research can be utilised in future work, including clinical guideline development and the implementation of evidence-based recommendations, as well as in communication and training aimed at reducing the use of low‑value care.

Cooperation

The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim
Steering group/Editor-in-Chief Raija Sipilä

Research collaboration/Aleksi Raudasoja
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Steering group/Chief physician Tiina Hetemaa
Institute of Publich Health and Clinical Nutrition (UEF)
Steering group/Professor Pekka Mäntyselkä
The Finnish Medical Association

Technical implementation of the survey questionnaire
Radboud University

Research collaboration/Dr. Eva Verkerk

Health Economics Research Group 01.01.2022 -

Files

2 items

Keywords

clinical guidelines continuity of care de-implementation evidence-based medicine health economics implementation low-value care mixed method research prescribing practices