Article type
Abstract
Background:
A clinical practice guideline (CPG) update in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) is carried out by the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation (Conitec). The process involves the collaborative and interdisciplinary participation of stakeholders. However, prioritizing and recommending technologies of SUS’ interest supported by scientific evidence is a challenge. Considering a universal and comprehensive SUS, CPGs also need to be aligned with other health policies in Brazil. In this sense, it is essential to outline strategies that make the CPG development process more assertive and optimized, in addition to ensuring synergy between the CPG and the care offered.
Objective:
To describe the strategies developed by Conitec's Executive Secretariat to promote synergy between evidence synthesis and SUS public policies in the process of developing CPGs.
Methods:
A descriptive study of the CPG development process by Conitec was done. Conitec technical documents were consulted, and CPG development processes institutionalized by the Executive Secretariat of Conitec in 2021 were described.
Results:
Conitec's Executive Secretariat instituted a prescoping phase in the CPG update process. At this stage, the decision-makers meet to understand which policies are related to the CPG and align the initial clinical doubts about the topic and the scope of the document. Subsequently, during the scope, different stakeholders prioritize which health technologies will be evaluated by Conitec in a collaborative effort to reach the main needs of the population. However, the questions raised are not always supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, in order to improve the process of health technology assessment and thinking about saving resources, only technologies with sufficient evidence are sent for evaluation by Conitec. Thus, efforts are directed toward evidence-based policies and practices.
Conclusions: Document scope strategies and evidence synthesis strategies made the elaboration of the CPG process more assertive, providing prioritization of technologies for evaluation and decision-making by Conitec. Furthermore, integrating health policies and CPG made the document more suitable for managing the health and access in the SUS.
A clinical practice guideline (CPG) update in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) is carried out by the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation (Conitec). The process involves the collaborative and interdisciplinary participation of stakeholders. However, prioritizing and recommending technologies of SUS’ interest supported by scientific evidence is a challenge. Considering a universal and comprehensive SUS, CPGs also need to be aligned with other health policies in Brazil. In this sense, it is essential to outline strategies that make the CPG development process more assertive and optimized, in addition to ensuring synergy between the CPG and the care offered.
Objective:
To describe the strategies developed by Conitec's Executive Secretariat to promote synergy between evidence synthesis and SUS public policies in the process of developing CPGs.
Methods:
A descriptive study of the CPG development process by Conitec was done. Conitec technical documents were consulted, and CPG development processes institutionalized by the Executive Secretariat of Conitec in 2021 were described.
Results:
Conitec's Executive Secretariat instituted a prescoping phase in the CPG update process. At this stage, the decision-makers meet to understand which policies are related to the CPG and align the initial clinical doubts about the topic and the scope of the document. Subsequently, during the scope, different stakeholders prioritize which health technologies will be evaluated by Conitec in a collaborative effort to reach the main needs of the population. However, the questions raised are not always supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, in order to improve the process of health technology assessment and thinking about saving resources, only technologies with sufficient evidence are sent for evaluation by Conitec. Thus, efforts are directed toward evidence-based policies and practices.
Conclusions: Document scope strategies and evidence synthesis strategies made the elaboration of the CPG process more assertive, providing prioritization of technologies for evaluation and decision-making by Conitec. Furthermore, integrating health policies and CPG made the document more suitable for managing the health and access in the SUS.