The use of guidelines development standards in recommendations and guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity

Abstract

Objective: Our publication aimed to identify and present standards and tools implemented in the development of guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: The results were based on complementary data extraction from records identified in the systematic review of the guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity performed in 2022. We examined the type of evidence used to develop the guidelines, the standards followed by authors in developing guidelines, and the system for classifying scientific evidence quality. The identified standards for guideline development were checked for validity and the methodology for assessing scientific evidence and presenting recommendations was described. Results: Our analysis of twenty-three retinopathy of prematurity guidelines uncovered two standards: World Health Organization Handbook and Setting Standards for the Development of Clinical Guidelines in Paediatrics and Child Health by Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). Only two guidelines from India and Latin America followed the WHO handbook and applied the GRADE system for assessing the quality of evidence and recommendations, while the United Kingdom guidelines adhered to the RCPCH standard and SIGN Grading Hierarchy. Conclusion: Our analysis revealed the need for improvement in the process of creating guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity in most countries. We believe that by raising awareness about the tools available to support authors we are able to spread their use as a standard practice.