‘Internationally, over the past decade in particular, an industry seems to have developed around CPG development, reporting, adoption, contextualization or adaptation, evaluation and implementation. The growing volume of evidence and the acronyms used in this field can be overwhelming, even for those involved.’

The paper below aims to ‘provide a guide describing common standards, methods and systems used in current international CPG activities and the various activities to produce and communicate them’. I have invited the authors to join us so that we can learn from their experience and expertise.

CITATION: Int J Qual Health Care. 2016 Jan 20. pii: mzv115

Guide to Clinical Practice Guidelines: The Current State of Play.

Kredo T, Bernhardsson S, Machingaidze S, Young T, Louw Q, Ochodo E, Grimmer K.

Full text: http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/01/20/intqhc.mzv115.long

Author contact: tamara.kredo@mrc.ac.za

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Extensive research has been undertaken over the last 30 years on the methods underpinning clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), including their development, updating, reporting, tailoring for specific purposes, implementation and evaluation. This has resulted in an increasing number of terms, tools and acronyms. Over time, CPGs have shifted from opinion-based to evidence-informed, including increasingly sophisticated methodologies and implementation strategies, and thus keeping abreast of evolution in this field of research can be challenging.

METHODS: This article collates findings from an extensive document search, to provide a guide describing standards, methods and systems reported in the current CPG methodology and implementation literature. This guide is targeted at those working in health care quality and safety and responsible for either commissioning, researching or delivering health care. It is presented in a way that can be updated as the field expands.

CONCLUSION: CPG development and implementation have attracted the most international interest and activity, whilst CPG updating, adopting (with or without contextualization), adapting and impact evaluation are less well addressed.

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