Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The development of rigorous, accurate, and trustworthy clinical practice guidelines is typically a momentous undertaking. Accordingly, various criteria have been developed to assess the quality of guidelines. However, meeting all of these criteria can be a great challenge for guideline developers.
Objectives: To present methods by which guideline developers can adhere to all four major grading criteria: AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation), IOM (Institute of Medicine), AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews), and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations).
Methods: A literature review was conducted to determine if methods on how to meet multiple criteria have previously been published. Additionally, a methodology was developed addressing each of the four assessments tools’ criteria. Domains for each tool were reviewed by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Guidelines Methodology Committee and the ACOEM Board of Directors.
Results: No published research was identified that detailed methods on how guideline developers can simultaneously meet these multiple criteria. Through a two-year methodology development process, the ACOEM Guidelines now adhere to all the domains put forth by every major assessment tool: IOM (eight standards), AGREE II (six domains), AMSTAR (11 criteria), and GRADE (seven domains). Domains include the scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity and presentation, applicability, and editorial independence.
Conclusion: Following a rigorous development process is important for developing a high-quality guideline that can help curtail the effects of bias in formulating a treatment plan. This detailed overview will provide guideline developers with guidance on how to simultaneously meet these four sets of criteria.
Objectives: To present methods by which guideline developers can adhere to all four major grading criteria: AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation), IOM (Institute of Medicine), AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews), and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations).
Methods: A literature review was conducted to determine if methods on how to meet multiple criteria have previously been published. Additionally, a methodology was developed addressing each of the four assessments tools’ criteria. Domains for each tool were reviewed by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Guidelines Methodology Committee and the ACOEM Board of Directors.
Results: No published research was identified that detailed methods on how guideline developers can simultaneously meet these multiple criteria. Through a two-year methodology development process, the ACOEM Guidelines now adhere to all the domains put forth by every major assessment tool: IOM (eight standards), AGREE II (six domains), AMSTAR (11 criteria), and GRADE (seven domains). Domains include the scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity and presentation, applicability, and editorial independence.
Conclusion: Following a rigorous development process is important for developing a high-quality guideline that can help curtail the effects of bias in formulating a treatment plan. This detailed overview will provide guideline developers with guidance on how to simultaneously meet these four sets of criteria.