Article type
Abstract
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the development and implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines (EBPGs) by global and local authorities, as well as the creation and use of platforms that contain all the recommendations, confirmed the crucial role that these documents have in the healthcare system. When confronted with uncertainty, clinicians, patients, and decision-makers paid close attention to recommendations from trusted organizations. In future public health emergencies, trustworthy and timely guidelines will again prove necessary.
Objective: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and facilitators of the development and implementation of EBPGs during a pandemic, from the perspective of guideline developers and implementers.
Methods: A four-phase exploratory sequential mixed-methods study: Phase I: descriptive qualitative data using semi-structured, individual interviews to identify the barriers and facilitators experienced by guideline developers and implementers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; Phase II) exploratory integration for survey development and validation: creation of domains and items using implementation research methods and the findings of the first phase; Phase III) a quantitative study that includes administration of the survey to a large sample; Phase IV) interpretation of the results: combination of qualitative and quantitative findings through narrative description and joint displays. In addition, we will explore subgroups of interest, as determined by the role of the participant in the guideline development and implementation process, the context in which the developer organization is based, and gender-specific factors.
We will approach people who participated in the development of EBCPGs during the COVID-19 pandemic through relevant networks (e.g., the COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making and Guidelines International Network - GIN) and collaborations (e.g., WHO and Pan-American Health Organization).
Results: This project is in progress. We will present the protocol of this project and we will invite attendees to provide feedback and participate in the interviews and survey.
Conclusions: This study will allow us to be better prepared for a new pandemic or health emergency. Our findings will inform those who plan to develop or implement EBPGs under competing pressures including the urgent need versus the priority on methodological rigor.
Objective: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and facilitators of the development and implementation of EBPGs during a pandemic, from the perspective of guideline developers and implementers.
Methods: A four-phase exploratory sequential mixed-methods study: Phase I: descriptive qualitative data using semi-structured, individual interviews to identify the barriers and facilitators experienced by guideline developers and implementers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; Phase II) exploratory integration for survey development and validation: creation of domains and items using implementation research methods and the findings of the first phase; Phase III) a quantitative study that includes administration of the survey to a large sample; Phase IV) interpretation of the results: combination of qualitative and quantitative findings through narrative description and joint displays. In addition, we will explore subgroups of interest, as determined by the role of the participant in the guideline development and implementation process, the context in which the developer organization is based, and gender-specific factors.
We will approach people who participated in the development of EBCPGs during the COVID-19 pandemic through relevant networks (e.g., the COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making and Guidelines International Network - GIN) and collaborations (e.g., WHO and Pan-American Health Organization).
Results: This project is in progress. We will present the protocol of this project and we will invite attendees to provide feedback and participate in the interviews and survey.
Conclusions: This study will allow us to be better prepared for a new pandemic or health emergency. Our findings will inform those who plan to develop or implement EBPGs under competing pressures including the urgent need versus the priority on methodological rigor.