TY - JOUR
AU - J. Gill
AU - S. Greenhalgh
AU - J. M. Latour
AU - G. Yeowell
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a spinal emergency. Over half of known cases first present to primary care for initial assessment. In February 2023, the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) national programme launched new CES guidelines, which included an important change in practice: a new urgent referral route. AIM: This study aims to explore the awareness and use of the GIRFT guidelines in a primary care setting in England. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional online survey was used to collect data from primary care clinicians working across England. METHOD: Using purposive sampling, the survey was shared with primary care clinicians across England and conducted between 21-10-2024 and 24-12-2024. The RE-AIM framework underpinned the survey design. Descriptive analysis was employed to interpret frequency and Likert data. RESULTS: A total of 515 responses were received from across all 42 integrated care boards in England. Of the 515 participants, 452 (88%) were aware of a CES guideline or pathway, with 297/515 (58%) being aware of the GIRFT guidelines. Two-thirds had access to a local CES pathway (n = 304/452, 67%). Nearly all clinicians highlighted that consulting either a local CES pathway or national guidelines supported their clinical decision making. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate the awareness and utilisation of the GIRFT guidelines in primary care across England. The use of locally agreed CES pathways was shown to increase adherence to their recommendations in primary care. These findings suggest that using up-to-date local CES pathways can increase adherence to the GIRFT guidelines.
AD - Spinal Surgery Service, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, UK.; School of Health Professions, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.; Orthopaedic Interface Service, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton, UK.; Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.; School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.; South West Clinical School, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, UK.
AN - 40473578
BT - Musculoskeletal Care
C5 - Education & Workforce
CP - 2
DA - Jun
DO - 10.1002/msc.70129
DP - NLM
IS - 2
JF - Musculoskeletal Care
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a spinal emergency. Over half of known cases first present to primary care for initial assessment. In February 2023, the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) national programme launched new CES guidelines, which included an important change in practice: a new urgent referral route. AIM: This study aims to explore the awareness and use of the GIRFT guidelines in a primary care setting in England. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional online survey was used to collect data from primary care clinicians working across England. METHOD: Using purposive sampling, the survey was shared with primary care clinicians across England and conducted between 21-10-2024 and 24-12-2024. The RE-AIM framework underpinned the survey design. Descriptive analysis was employed to interpret frequency and Likert data. RESULTS: A total of 515 responses were received from across all 42 integrated care boards in England. Of the 515 participants, 452 (88%) were aware of a CES guideline or pathway, with 297/515 (58%) being aware of the GIRFT guidelines. Two-thirds had access to a local CES pathway (n = 304/452, 67%). Nearly all clinicians highlighted that consulting either a local CES pathway or national guidelines supported their clinical decision making. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate the awareness and utilisation of the GIRFT guidelines in primary care across England. The use of locally agreed CES pathways was shown to increase adherence to their recommendations in primary care. These findings suggest that using up-to-date local CES pathways can increase adherence to the GIRFT guidelines.
PY - 2025
SN - 1478-2189 (Print); 1478-2189
SP - e70129
ST - Cauda Equina Syndrome: A Survey of Guideline Utilisation in Primary Care in England
T1 - Cauda Equina Syndrome: A Survey of Guideline Utilisation in Primary Care in England
T2 - Musculoskeletal Care
TI - Cauda Equina Syndrome: A Survey of Guideline Utilisation in Primary Care in England
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1002/msc.70129
VL - 23
VO - 1478-2189 (Print); 1478-2189
Y1 - 2025
ER -