ObjectiveTo investigate primary healthcare workers' knowledge, attitude and behaviour, and explore the way of guidelines' popularization, application and surveillance mechanism in primary healthcare institutions. MethodsHealthcare workers in seven township hospitals in Gaolan county, Gansu province were given a questionnaire to test their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding Clinical practice guidelines. ResultsAmong the 143 distributed questionnaires, 143 valid were retrieved. The results showed that 80% of respondents knew the guidelines and 51% had used guidelines in treatment, 32% obtained guidelines mainly through distribution by affiliations. The most popular type of guidelines was self-developed by native departments. Respondents (37%) considered difficult availability of guidelines major barriers to popularization, 74% failed to receive training about guidelines, 88% looked forward to special organizations in charge of disseminating guidelines and conducting related training on how to apply guidelines. ConclusionPrimary healthcare workers report low awareness of, attention to and compliance with clinical practice guidelines. The greatest challenge for guidelines' popularization in township hospitals is difficult availability and it is of vital importance for primary institutions to enhance guidelines' implementation and strengthen learning and conduct training.