Implementing best practice guidelines: the influence of personal characteristics.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have not been widely adopted by general practitioners despite their obvious benefits of improving health care. Personal characteristics have been identified as one factor influencing doctors' attitudes towards guidelines. This study examined the impact of personal characteristics of Australian general practitioners on their attitudes towards guidelines. Favouring a fee-for-service remuneration system is highly associated with a negative view towards guidelines. This finding needs to be taken into account when developing strategies for the implementation of guidelines in the Australian context.