BMJ  2004;329 (30 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7473.0

NICE influences prescribing but has more to do

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) aims to improve health care in Britain by promoting the use of health technologies based on research evidence. Using time series analysis, case note review, survey, and interviews, Sheldon and colleagues (p 999) conducted a national study of the institute's early recommendations and found that prescribing was particularly amenable to change. There was little evidence, however, that NICE had influenced the use of surgical procedures or medical devices.

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What's the evidence that NICE guidance has been implemented? Results from a national evaluation using time series analysis, audit of patients' notes, and interviews

Trevor A Sheldon, Nicky Cullum, Diane Dawson, Annette Lankshear, Karin Lowson, Ian Watt, Peter West, Dianne Wright, and John Wright
BMJ 2004 329: 999. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]