Required knowledge for guideline panel members to develop healthcare related testing recommendations – a developmental study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo define the minimum knowledge required for guideline panel members (healthcare professionals and consumers) involved in developing recommendations about healthcare related testing. Study design and settingA developmental study with a multi-staged approach. We derived a first set of knowledge components from literature and subsequently performed semi-structured interviews with nine experts. We refined the set of knowledge components and checked it with the interviewees for final approval. ResultsUnderstanding the test-management pathway, e.g., how test results should be used in context of decisions about interventions, is the key knowledge component. The final list includes 26 items on the following topics: health question, test-management pathway, target population, test, test result, interpretation of test results & subsequent management, and impact on people important outcomes. For each item, the required level of knowledge is defined. ConclusionWe developed a list of knowledge components required for guideline panels to formulate recommendations on healthcare related testing. The list could be used to design specific training programs for guideline panel members when developing recommendations about tests and testing strategies in healthcare.