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Methodology manual for European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) clinical guidelines
Miguel Sousa-Uva1, Stuart J Head2, Matthias Thielmann3
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Hospital Cruz Vermelha, Lisbon, Portugal migueluva@gmail.com.
Insights
This document outlines new methods for developing European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) clinical guidelines. The aim is to improve the quality, transparency, and independence of EACTS evidence-based documents for better healthcare decisions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Clinical Guidelines
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Clinical guidelines are crucial for healthcare decisions but face scrutiny regarding quality and transparency.
- Existing guidelines from other cardiothoracic organizations were reviewed to inform new development processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a standardized methodology for the development of European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) clinical guidelines.
- To enhance the quality, objectivity, and trustworthiness of EACTS evidence-based documents.
Main Methods:
- Development of instructions based on a revision of existing cardiothoracic organization manuals.
- Addressing key areas: taskforce selection, industry relations transparency, evidence appraisal, recommendation writing, and review processes.
Main Results:
- A comprehensive framework for creating EACTS clinical guidelines and evidence-based documents has been established.
- The methodology focuses on transparency, rigorous evidence appraisal, and clear recommendation formulation.
Conclusions:
- Adoption of this methodology is expected to yield well-balanced and objective clinical guidelines.
- The new guidelines aim to foster greater trust among physicians and patients, improving the implementation and impact of EACTS recommendations.
Abstract:
The goal of all clinical guidelines is to assist patients and practitioners in making healthcare decisions. However, clinical guidelines have been questioned about their quality, transparency and independence. Based on the revision of manuals by other scientific cardiothoracic organizations, this document provides instructions for the development of European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) clinical guidelines and other types of evidence-based documents. Four key areas have been addressed: (i) selection of taskforce members and transparency of relations with the industry, (ii) methods for critical appraisal of medical evidence, (iii) rules for writing recommendations and (iv) review process. It is hoped that, by adopting this methodology, clinical guidelines produced by the EACTS will be well balanced, objective and, importantly, trusted by physicians and patients who benefit from their implementation.