• Britta L Anderson, Mark Pearlman, Jennifer Griffin, and Jay Schulkin.
• banderson@acog.org
• J Healthc Qual. 2013 Jul 1; 35 (4): 25-35.

ObjectiveTo assess obstetrician-gynecologists' (ob-gyns') use of multiple conflicting guidelines assess after the release of the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) breast cancer screening recommendations.Study DesignA nationally representative sample of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Fellows were invited to complete a survey.ResultsA total of 235 of 399 ob-gyns responded (59% response rate). Twenty percent and 89% indicated that USPSTF and ACOG guidelines influence their practice, respectively, 84% are influenced by more than one guideline. The plurality of respondents was able to correctly identify ACOG and USPSTF guidelines on 10 of 12 questions. One-third agreed with both ACOG's and USPSTF's recommendations regarding mammography screening for women 40-49 years old. A total of 42% of the sample made at least one change in their practice after the release of the 2009 USPSTF breast cancer screening guidelines.ConclusionSome ob-gyns made changes to their practices after the release of the USPSTF guidelines. When multiple guidelines exist, as in the case with breast cancer screening, physicians utilize multiple, and at times conflicting, guidelines. More research will be needed to better understand the impact (negative or positive) of multiple guidelines on the quality of healthcare.© 2013 National Association for Healthcare Quality.

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