Article type
Abstract
Background:
Issuing good practice statements (GPS) in guideline development is typically done in parallel with formal recommendations development. For the Canadian Guidelines for post COVID-19 condition (CAN-PCC) GPS were provided as an early step, to address common challenges people were facing with PCC as a poorly understood condition.
Objective:
Describe the stepwise methodology, value, and limitations regarding GPS development in the Canadian Guidelines for PCC (CAN-PCC).
Methods:
CAN-PCC started in January 2023 and the CAN-PCC Collaborative developed GPS in the second half of 2023. The following steps were taken to ensure methodological rigour and relevance of the GPS: 1) a scoping review captured the most commonly addressed populations, interventions and outcomes in guidelines and systematic reviews; 2) a survey to collect input from the Canadian public for topic prioritization highlighted common challenges for patients; 3) guideline development group and teams, with patient and the public representation, as well as an equity oversight committee, provided input on the most pressing issues requiring prompt guidance; 4) guideline teams developed GPS, ensuring they met the five Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria; 5) input from the Canadian public and stakeholders on the draft GPS; 6) the overarching guideline development group finalized the GPS.
Results:
The CAN-PCC Collaborative issued 9 GPS on various topics, including public education and communication, evaluating patients for limitations in daily activities, validating patients’ experiences, cultivating an accessible, appropriate, and culturally responsive environment, comprehensive assessment of children and adolescents, and receiving a plan of care from health professionals trained in PCC. An online Recommendation Map provides full GPS frameworks with information showing how they meet GRADE criteria. Challenges in the GPS development process primarily concerned short timelines for the public and stakeholders to comment on the GPS, the broad scope of the statements limiting specific implementation, and a lack of understanding of the GPS criteria among the target audience.
Conclusions:
CAN-PCC showed that it is feasible as early guideline development step to issue GPS that meet methodological criteria, provide full supporting information, and address common challenges. Feedback during and after development will inform future similar approaches.
Issuing good practice statements (GPS) in guideline development is typically done in parallel with formal recommendations development. For the Canadian Guidelines for post COVID-19 condition (CAN-PCC) GPS were provided as an early step, to address common challenges people were facing with PCC as a poorly understood condition.
Objective:
Describe the stepwise methodology, value, and limitations regarding GPS development in the Canadian Guidelines for PCC (CAN-PCC).
Methods:
CAN-PCC started in January 2023 and the CAN-PCC Collaborative developed GPS in the second half of 2023. The following steps were taken to ensure methodological rigour and relevance of the GPS: 1) a scoping review captured the most commonly addressed populations, interventions and outcomes in guidelines and systematic reviews; 2) a survey to collect input from the Canadian public for topic prioritization highlighted common challenges for patients; 3) guideline development group and teams, with patient and the public representation, as well as an equity oversight committee, provided input on the most pressing issues requiring prompt guidance; 4) guideline teams developed GPS, ensuring they met the five Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria; 5) input from the Canadian public and stakeholders on the draft GPS; 6) the overarching guideline development group finalized the GPS.
Results:
The CAN-PCC Collaborative issued 9 GPS on various topics, including public education and communication, evaluating patients for limitations in daily activities, validating patients’ experiences, cultivating an accessible, appropriate, and culturally responsive environment, comprehensive assessment of children and adolescents, and receiving a plan of care from health professionals trained in PCC. An online Recommendation Map provides full GPS frameworks with information showing how they meet GRADE criteria. Challenges in the GPS development process primarily concerned short timelines for the public and stakeholders to comment on the GPS, the broad scope of the statements limiting specific implementation, and a lack of understanding of the GPS criteria among the target audience.
Conclusions:
CAN-PCC showed that it is feasible as early guideline development step to issue GPS that meet methodological criteria, provide full supporting information, and address common challenges. Feedback during and after development will inform future similar approaches.