PERCEIVED BARRIERS OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS’ ADHERENCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES OF HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY IN JORDAN: A DESCRIPTIVE, CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Rationale, Aims, and Objectives A better understanding of the potential determinants of health care providers' adherence to clinical practice guideline (CPG) of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDPs) is vitally important for guiding the development of effective strategies to improve the local acceptance and actual implementation of HDPs' guidelines in clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to assess the barriers to implementing CPG of HDPs amongst healthcare providers (including obstetricians, midwives, and nurses) in their clinical practice in Jordanian hospitals. Method A quantitative, cross-sectional design was used, guided by Cabana et al., (1999) framework of Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior. The study was conducted in four hospitals: two governmental, one military, and one private, thus representing the main healthcare sectors in Jordan. Using convenience sampling, all HCPs including obstetricians, nurses, and registered midwives (n= 284) employed in these hospitals were approached. A self-reported questionnaire titled “Attitudes Regarding Practice Guidelines” (Larson, 2004) was used. Results The questionnaire was returned by 270 (70.3% response rate) of health care providers. About thirty-five percent (n=93) of the respondents were not familiar with the clinical guidelines in their practice, and 31.9% (n=86) were not aware of a guideline's existence in their practice. Generally, respondents held favorable attitudes toward clinical practice guidelines. Up to 35% of respondents felt incompetent to provide care in accordance with guidelines. Approximately 55% (n=147) of the respondents indicated that neither they don't have enough time nor do they have access to the necessary resources and equipment to use the HDPs' guideline (25%, n=66). In relation to patient preferences, a significant percentage of the respondents (28.9%, n=78) disagreed that patients preferred to see them providing care in accordance with the HDPs' guidelines. Conclusion A number of factors that may facilitate or hinder the adoption and implementation of CPGs amongst healthcare providers were identified. Effectual strategies with active participation of healthcare stakeholders, health care providers, and patients are needful to enhance adherence to CPGs, and so improve patient outcomes.