Table 3 Characteristics of studies and results for studies reporting awareness of clinical practice guidelines (17 included studies)

Berry 2010 [23]

To gain an understanding of public perceptions of Physical Activity guidelines put forward by a public health agency

22 participants in five focus groups, 18 to 70 years; Type II diabetes or cardiovascular disease; Canada

Lack of awareness

Qualitative study

Good

Cameron 2007 [24]

To determine Awareness and Knowledge of Canadian Physical Activity Guide (CPAG) guidelines, prompted and unprompted

8892 adults aged 18 or older from Physical Activity Monitor; 52% female, 83% greater than high school education; Canada

4% aware of any guidelines for physical activity; 37% prompted aware of CPAG

Cross sectional study

Fair

Copeland 2005 [25]

To determine awareness of written guidelines that define which conditions require exclusion from the Child Care Centre

128 parents picking up children at Day Care Centre, 91% female, 69% African American; Baltimore City, USA

61% aware of guideline

Cross sectional study

Fair

Crocetti 2004 [26]

To determine awareness and knowledge of infant feeding guidelines

102 Primary female caregivers mean age 27 years; 34% African American; 64% completed high school; Maryland, USA

77% aware of guideline

Cross sectional study

Good

Faruqi 2000 [16]

To determine how to put into practice and disseminate clinical management of diabetes mellitus guidelines

5-20 participants recruited through Diabetes Australia in four focus groups; Sydney, Australia

Lack of awareness

Qualitative study

Poor

Geiger 2001 [17]

To determine awareness of dietary guidelines and test presentation formats

40 men and women (25–45); Missouri, USA

Lack of awareness

Qualitative study

Fair

Hong 2007 [28]

To determine awareness and knowledge of dietary guidelines

345 well people - 77% female; 46% <65 years. Randomly selected in one district Seoul urban population.

32.2% aware of dietary guidelines

Cross sectional study

Poor

Keenan 2002 [29]

To examine knowledge and understanding and factors that influence knowledge - media/non-media/age and education

400 adults over 18 years old, 51.8% college degree, 56% female; Minnesota, USA

45% aware of dietary guidelines

Cross sectional study

Fair

Mitchell 2004 [19]

To examine knowledge of evidence based medicine and guidelines

33 patients with colorectal cancer and 9 carers; 43 to 86 yrs old; 66% male; many had not completed high school; Austin, Victoria, Australia

No awareness

Qualitative study

Fair

Miroballi 2012 [31]

To determine awareness of Infection Control guidelines

1399 Cystic Fibrosis patients and their families; 38% patients, 62% family members in USA

65% aware of guidelines

Cross sectional study

Fair

Nash 2003 [32]

To determine cholesterol guideline awareness

1163 adults, 56% female, >40 years; Canada

32% (94/290) aware of guideline

Cross sectional study

Poor

McFarlane 2012 [30]

To determine public awareness of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and their implementation

1675 respondents (70% female, 61% (45–74 yrs old), 17% health care professionals); mostly England and Wales, UK

79% (824/1040) aware of guidelines

Cross sectional study

Fair

Owen-Smith 2010 [20]

To investigate patients’ and healthcare providers’ experiences of, and preferences for, implicit and explicit healthcare rationing

56 participants (31 patients, clinicians, healthcare managers); morbid obesity and breast cancer; Bristol, UK

Only 6/31 patients knew about NICE and what they did and 3 of these patients worked for health service.

Qualitative study

Fair

Roth 2010 [33]

To investigate knowledge of guidelines and if is this linked to following guidelines

1940 adolescents (11–15 yrs old); 49% female; England, UK

11% of children knew about the recommendations.

Cross sectional study

Fair

Royak-Schaler 2008 [22]

To investigate patient-physician communication from the patient’s perspective about guidelines

39 participants, 30–75 yrs old (mean age 55), 72% college education, breast cancer survivors, all African American; Baltimore, USA

Lack of awareness

Qualitative study

Fair

SIGN 2011 [34]

To investigate public awareness of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines and their implementation

239 respondents (66% female, 74% 45–74 yrs old, 61% had specific condition or disability); mostly Scotland, UK

64% (151/236) aware of guidelines

Cross sectional study

Fair

Spence 2002 [36]

To investigate awareness of Canada’s Physical Guide to Healthy Active Living

2719 participants; 18-76+ years; Alberta, Canada

20% (544/2719) aware of guideline

Cross sectional study

Fair