Background Dissemination resources are very important to utilise Guidelines. To provide useful information to make a strategy for promoting implementation effectiveness, identifying the barriers to the utilisation should be done.

Objectives To identify the likely resources of guideline dissemination and find out the barriers to the utilisation of a clinical practice guideline in Korea.

Methods Likely resources of dissemination and the perceived barriers to the utilisation of a clinical practice guideline for sexually transmitted infections which is developed in 2011 by The Korean Urological Association were surveyed using structured questionnaire by e-mailing to physicians working at primary health care clinics from 1st Nov – 30thNov 2012. Total number of respondents was 305 and the response rate was 6%.

Results There were various likely resources of a guideline dissemination; the most likely resource was a printed full version guideline (76.3%), followed by web and mobile application (Guideline APP) (65.6%) and learning modules such as workshop (51.5%). Barriers to the utilisation of clinical practice guideline were ‘not knowing because of the improper promotion’, ‘unclear compensatory mechanisms like the fee schedule for practice guidelines’, and ‘insufficient treatment time to check the recommendation of practice guidelines’.

Discussion To maximise guidelines dissemination benefits, various resources should be provided at the same time. The current surveyed knowledge of barriers may be very important information for implementing guidelines.

Implications for Guideline Developers/Users Identifying resources of dissemination and understanding barriers to the utilisation is important for development efficient tailor-made implementation strategies.