Characterization and analysis of guideline implementation tools (GItools) reveals opportunities for improving health service planning, delivery and quality improvement

Background Guidelines inform health care planning, delivery and quality improvement but are not consistently implemented [1-3]. Research shows that guidelines were more likely to be used when accompanied by guideline implementation tools (GItools), but few guidelines offered GItools [4-6]. Interviews with guideline developers and analysis of guideline instructional manuals revealed a need for information to support GItool development [7-9]. First it is necessary to characterize GItools. The purpose of this research was to generate a framework of desirable GItool features, and use the framework to describe a sample of GItools.