Abstract
BackgroundPractice guidelines require a substantial investment of resources and time, often taking between 1 and 3 years from conceptualisation to publication. However, urgent situations require the development of recommendations in a shorter timeframe. In this third and final article in the series exploring challenges and solutions in developing rapid guidelines (RGs), we propose guiding principles for the development of RGs.MethodsWe utilised the Guideline International Network-McMaster Guideline Development Checklist (GDC) as a starting point for elements to consider during RG development. We built on those elements using the findings from a systematic review of guideline manuals, a survey of international organisations conducting RGs, and interviews of guideline developers within WHO. We reviewed initial findings and developed an intermediate list of elements, as well as narrative guidance. We then invited experts to validate the intermediate list, reviewing for placement, brevity and redundancy. We used this iterative process and group consensus to determine the final elements for RG development guidance.ResultsOur work identified 21 principles within the topics of the Guideline International Network-McMaster GDC to guide the planning and development of RGs. Principles fell within 15 of the 18 checklist topics, highlighting strategies to streamline and expedite the guideline development process.ConclusionsWe defined principles to guide the development of RGs, while maintaining a standardised, rigorous and transparent process. These principles will serve as guidance for guideline developers responding to urgent situations such as public health urgencies. Integration of these principles within currently disseminated guideline development standards will facilitate the use of those tools in situations necessitating RG recommendations.
Highlights
Practice guidelines require a substantial investment of resources and time, often taking between 1 and 3 years from conceptualisation to publication
In 2014, we developed the Guideline International Network (GIN)-McMaster Guideline Development Checklist (GDC) [7], which is organised into 146 elements across 18 topics addressing all stages of the guideline enterprise from planning, to implementation and evaluation [7]
Of the 32 elements identified from the qualitative analysis of the results of the systematic review and interviews, we selected 21 discrete guiding principles for planning or developing rapid guideline (RG)
Summary
Practice guidelines require a substantial investment of resources and time, often taking between 1 and 3 years from conceptualisation to publication. Urgent situations require the development of recommendations in a shorter timeframe. In this third and final article in the series exploring challenges and solutions in developing rapid guidelines (RGs), we propose guiding principles for the development of RGs. Healthcare guidelines are statements that include recommendations intended to optimise healthcare, whether at the clinical, public health or health policy levels. Healthcare guidelines are statements that include recommendations intended to optimise healthcare, whether at the clinical, public health or health policy levels They should be informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the desirable and undesirable consequences of alternative care options [1]. One approach to expedite the guideline development process is to increase the resources. Using unsystematically identified evidence is likely to impact the validity and credibility of the guideline
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
