Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:Guidelines are developed by organizations of varying size, structure, and resources worldwide. However, little is currently known about the needs and challenges faced by guideline producers.
Objectives:To assess the perceived needs of guideline-producing organizations worldwide, with a specific
focus on identifying challenges related to collaboration between organizations.
Methods:The survey targeted organizations and individuals involved in guideline development. Survey questions were developed by the U.S. GRADE Network and Guidelines International Network using an iterative approach. The survey was pilot-tested among attendees of a guideline development workshop, and included free-response, multiple-choice, and Likert-scale questions. We used electronic mailing lists, social media, and word-of-mouth to disseminate the survey using convenience and snowball sampling methods from November 2019 to April 2020.
Results:A total of 171 responses were included in the analysis, representing 30 countries and 116 unique organizations, which included professional societies, academic institutions, government agencies, industry, patient advocacy, and other stakeholders with membership sizes ranging from 30,000. The number of staff dedicated to guideline development ranged from 15. Nearly half (48.5%) of respondents indicated that they collaborated with other organizations to produce guidelines.
A lack of adequate resources to develop rigorous guidelines rapidly was the most notable need indicated in the survey. Difficulties reconciling differences in methodology and the time required to establish collaborative agreements were the most relevant barriers to collaboration.
Conclusions:Efforts to improve guideline development should focus on providing resources for rapid
guideline development, capacity building, and facilitation of collaborative agreements.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:No
Objectives:To assess the perceived needs of guideline-producing organizations worldwide, with a specific
focus on identifying challenges related to collaboration between organizations.
Methods:The survey targeted organizations and individuals involved in guideline development. Survey questions were developed by the U.S. GRADE Network and Guidelines International Network using an iterative approach. The survey was pilot-tested among attendees of a guideline development workshop, and included free-response, multiple-choice, and Likert-scale questions. We used electronic mailing lists, social media, and word-of-mouth to disseminate the survey using convenience and snowball sampling methods from November 2019 to April 2020.
Results:A total of 171 responses were included in the analysis, representing 30 countries and 116 unique organizations, which included professional societies, academic institutions, government agencies, industry, patient advocacy, and other stakeholders with membership sizes ranging from 30,000. The number of staff dedicated to guideline development ranged from 15. Nearly half (48.5%) of respondents indicated that they collaborated with other organizations to produce guidelines.
A lack of adequate resources to develop rigorous guidelines rapidly was the most notable need indicated in the survey. Difficulties reconciling differences in methodology and the time required to establish collaborative agreements were the most relevant barriers to collaboration.
Conclusions:Efforts to improve guideline development should focus on providing resources for rapid
guideline development, capacity building, and facilitation of collaborative agreements.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:No