PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Deyo, Richard A. TI - Using Outcomes to Improve Quality of Research and Quality of Care AID - 10.3122/jabfm.11.6.465 DP - 1998 Nov 01 TA - The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice PG - 465--473 VI - 11 IP - 6 4099 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/11/6/465.short 4100 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/11/6/465.full SO - J Am Board Fam Med1998 Nov 01; 11 AB - Your clinic has decided to undertake a quality-improvement initiative for patients with low back pain. A steering committee has recommended implementing a set of evidence-based guidelines developed through the sponsorship of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Strategies are now in place to modify your guidelines and your colleagues' prescribing practices with regard to bed rest, use of imaging studies, and days off from work. Always the skeptic, you ask your medical director, “How will we know if following these guidelines has done any good?”