Development of a Multinational Clinical Practice Guideline: A Practical Structured Procedure.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Clinical guideline development is complex, lacking practical, step-by-step descriptions from initiation to dissemination.
• Existing methods vary in approaches, grading systems, and voting modes, hindering standardization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a structured, adaptable procedure for developing multinational clinical practice guidelines.
• To provide a practical framework for guideline development, from initiative to publication and dissemination.

Main Methods:

• A European guideline for breath tests in gastroenterology was developed by specialist and national societies.
• Involvement of physicians from 18 European countries ensured a balance between scientific evidence and clinical experience.
• Defined levels of involvement and assigned tasks to scientific institutions.

Main Results:

• A structured, stepwise procedure with defined organizational structures and institutions was established.
• A flowchart illustrates the multistep guideline development process, including workflow, responsibilities, and timelines.
• The process is divided into four distinct phases: foundation, preparation, voting, and publication.

Conclusions:

• The described structured procedure serves as a blueprint for future multinational guideline initiatives.
• This framework can help standardize and harmonize guideline development in gastroenterology and other medical fields.
• The procedure is adaptable for both diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines.