Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control (CCDIC) develops the Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI) Guidelines (formerly the Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections) in consultation with the National Advisory Committee on STBBI (NAC-STBBI). CCDIC is implementing a new methodology to balance the value of expert opinion with the increasing need to use a rigorous, systematic and transparent approach to formulate trustworthy guidance.
Objective: To provide an overview of the methodology for developing the PHAC STBBI Guidelines.
Methods: A review identified publications on best practice standards (e.g., GRADE approach) in guideline development and the methods manuals of major guideline developers. This informed the draft CCDIC methods manual, which underwent internal review before being implemented.
Results: The methodology is as follows: CCDIC conducts a topic selection and prioritization exercise, which includes completing an assessment tool to help the NAC-STBBI rank a list of topics. For each prioritized topic, CCDIC forms a Sub Working Group to engage experts and conducts a scoping exercise before an evidence review protocol is prepared. The GRADE approach is used, as appropriate, when conducting evidence reviews and developing recommendations. After NAC-STBBI voting, the recommendations are published in a statement.
Conclusion: By following this methodology, PHAC will produce trustworthy evidence-based STBBI recommendations. Updates to the manual will reflect lessons learned and, as appropriate, new developments in the guideline methodology field.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: CCDIC plans to identify and engage relevant stakeholders during various stages of the guideline development process.
Objective: To provide an overview of the methodology for developing the PHAC STBBI Guidelines.
Methods: A review identified publications on best practice standards (e.g., GRADE approach) in guideline development and the methods manuals of major guideline developers. This informed the draft CCDIC methods manual, which underwent internal review before being implemented.
Results: The methodology is as follows: CCDIC conducts a topic selection and prioritization exercise, which includes completing an assessment tool to help the NAC-STBBI rank a list of topics. For each prioritized topic, CCDIC forms a Sub Working Group to engage experts and conducts a scoping exercise before an evidence review protocol is prepared. The GRADE approach is used, as appropriate, when conducting evidence reviews and developing recommendations. After NAC-STBBI voting, the recommendations are published in a statement.
Conclusion: By following this methodology, PHAC will produce trustworthy evidence-based STBBI recommendations. Updates to the manual will reflect lessons learned and, as appropriate, new developments in the guideline methodology field.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: CCDIC plans to identify and engage relevant stakeholders during various stages of the guideline development process.