[Simple guideline-oriented supportive tools in primary care: Effects on adherence to the S3/NV guideline unipolar depression].

Objectives: Does the provision of supportive tools improve guideline-oriented recognition and treatment of patients with depression in primary care? Methods: In a nested intervention study, as part of a larger epidemiological study program in German primary care, 46 randomly drawn practices received tools to facilitate identification and treatment decisions. Pre-post effects were compared to 42 matched control practices without intervention. Results: The proportion of correctly identified depression cases was similar in the intervention (47.2 %) and the control group (42.3 %, p = 0.537). Compared to controls, practitioners in the intervention group rated their competence in case identification and treatment at post-intervention more positively (p = 0.016). No effects were observed regarding the usage of the tools, practitioners' attitudes towards national depression guidelines, and depression treatment procedures. Discussion: Since provision of guideline-oriented tools did not improve recognition and quality of treatment, delineation of alternative strategies for enhanced guideline adherence in primary care for depression is warranted.