A critical evaluation of the guidelines of obstructive lung disease and their implementation

Abstract

Guidelines or recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of obstructive lung diseases defined as asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been numerous in the Nordic countries during the last 25 years. A better-shared care between on one side the general practitioners or chest physicians and on the other side the patients and their closest surroundings of care has to be implemented in future guidelines. Guidelines are based on efficacy and not effectiveness studies, and do not properly focus the process of behavioural changes of health care professionals and patients. Primary care physicians treat the vast majority of patients with chronic airway disease of moderate severity. However, they find the evidence-based practice guidelines often complicated. Furthermore, less than 50% of the recommendations in guidelines may be evidence based. As rapid changes may occur in diagnosis and treatment options, future guidelines must be able to adapt to such rapid adjustments. No randomised studies are available on the effect of patient-relevant outcomes using guidelines on management of obstructive lung disease. More outcome research is necessary on both change of procedures and health endpoints after launching guidelines. Cost-effectiveness studies are important to make medical staff and administrative health care systems cooperate in the construction of future health care systems with both an improved medical and system quality.