Article type
Year
Abstract
Introduction/Objective: There is increasing concern over the number of guidelines in specific clinical areas that contain conflicting recommendations. When this occurs, clinicians, and policy makers will wish to make informed decisions on which recommendations to follow. There is a need therefore, for a common, valid and transparent approach to assessing the quality of each guideline. Preliminary work has been undertaken in the Netherlands, Finland, and the UK, as well as America and Canada. It is now an appropriate time to create a coordinated European approach to the appraisal of clinical guidelines.
Methods: A consortia of guideline researchers in 9 European Countries and Canada have exchange information and work together (Dr Pierre Ourieux (Hopital Cochin Public des Hopitaux de Paris, France), Dr Jose Asua (Basque Office for Technology Assessment, Spain), Dr Finn Kristensen (Danish Hospital Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark), Dr Roberto Grillo (Mario Negri Institute, Milan, Italy), Dr Marjukka Makela (National Centre for Welfare and Health, Helsinki, Finland), Professor Richard Grol (Centre for Quality of Care Research, Nijmegen, the Netherlands), Dr Albert Jovell (Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment, Barcelona, Spain), Dr Jeremy Grimshaw (Health Services Research Unit, Aberdeen University, UK), Dr Nick Klasinga, Organisation for Quality Assurance in Hospitals, the Netherlands), Professor Thierry Philip (Federation Nationale des Centres de Lutte contre le Cancer.France), George Browman, (McMaster University, Ontaria, Canada). The tasks of the consortia are to (i) Describe the guideline development processes and procedures in live countries (ii) Develop a common set of appraisal criteria for clinical guidelines (European Union Critical Appraisal Instrument for Guidelines [EUCAIG]) (iii) Compare and appraise 3 sets of disease specific guidelines from the collaborating countries (2 diseases will be common to all countries and 1 country specific) and determine the underlying causes for the discrepancies in recommendations (e.g. methodological, scientific or cultural) (iv) Make recommendations for guideline development in Europe, identifying the potential to share aspects of guideline development (e.g. systematic reviews) or guidelines across EC countries (v) Disseminate the results of this work to all EC countries.
Results: The consortia has agreed a research protocol which has been submitted to the BIOMED -2 Programme (PL 963669) for support. The methodology to be used will be presented.
Discussion: This common approach will increase the likelihood of guidelines improving the cost-effectiveness of health care provision in European countries.
Methods: A consortia of guideline researchers in 9 European Countries and Canada have exchange information and work together (Dr Pierre Ourieux (Hopital Cochin Public des Hopitaux de Paris, France), Dr Jose Asua (Basque Office for Technology Assessment, Spain), Dr Finn Kristensen (Danish Hospital Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark), Dr Roberto Grillo (Mario Negri Institute, Milan, Italy), Dr Marjukka Makela (National Centre for Welfare and Health, Helsinki, Finland), Professor Richard Grol (Centre for Quality of Care Research, Nijmegen, the Netherlands), Dr Albert Jovell (Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment, Barcelona, Spain), Dr Jeremy Grimshaw (Health Services Research Unit, Aberdeen University, UK), Dr Nick Klasinga, Organisation for Quality Assurance in Hospitals, the Netherlands), Professor Thierry Philip (Federation Nationale des Centres de Lutte contre le Cancer.France), George Browman, (McMaster University, Ontaria, Canada). The tasks of the consortia are to (i) Describe the guideline development processes and procedures in live countries (ii) Develop a common set of appraisal criteria for clinical guidelines (European Union Critical Appraisal Instrument for Guidelines [EUCAIG]) (iii) Compare and appraise 3 sets of disease specific guidelines from the collaborating countries (2 diseases will be common to all countries and 1 country specific) and determine the underlying causes for the discrepancies in recommendations (e.g. methodological, scientific or cultural) (iv) Make recommendations for guideline development in Europe, identifying the potential to share aspects of guideline development (e.g. systematic reviews) or guidelines across EC countries (v) Disseminate the results of this work to all EC countries.
Results: The consortia has agreed a research protocol which has been submitted to the BIOMED -2 Programme (PL 963669) for support. The methodology to be used will be presented.
Discussion: This common approach will increase the likelihood of guidelines improving the cost-effectiveness of health care provision in European countries.