[Are practice guidelines being followed in specialized care?].

We surveyed to which extent the processes of examination and treatment in 2012 were based on guidelines based on evaluated scientific evidence within the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa. The survey was directed at the fulfillment of 31 Current Care guidelines and 19 HALO guidelines, four nursing science guidelines as well as one physiotherapeutic guideline in a total of 1,318 patients. Current Care guidelines were mainly fulfilled well.

[Research performed at a university hospital is worthwhile].

To elucidate the effects of scientific research performed within the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) on the treatment of patients, we studied the contribution of HUS to treatment recommendation work, preparation of textbooks and manuals, national or international expert assignments, as well as by using focused questionnaires. In our surveys, 82% of the research group leaders reported that their research has resulted in changes in clinical work. The total number of changes was approximately 700.