[Development of Clinical practice guidelines: procedure and standard]

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

• Rapid growth in clinical practice guidelines development in China over the last decade.
• Many past guidelines lacked high quality and international standardization.
• Limited expert familiarity with guideline development procedures contributed to quality issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the essential components and requirements for developing high-quality clinical practice guidelines.
• To address the challenges faced in guideline development in China.
• To emphasize the need for standardized procedures and multidimensional collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Guidelines are structured around clinical problems using the PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome).
• Recommendations are formulated through comprehensive systematic reviews, evidence grading, and strength of recommendation systems.
• Consideration of factors like pros and cons for specific populations, patient values, cost-effectiveness, and healthcare systems is crucial.

Main Results:

• High-quality guidelines necessitate multidimensional input from clinicians, patients, and policymakers.
• Standardized procedures are essential for ensuring scientific soundness, honesty, and transparency.
• Collaboration among experts, methodologists, and policymakers is vital for successful guideline development.

Conclusions:

• Improving the quality of clinical practice guidelines in China requires adherence to international standards and robust development methodologies.
• A systematic approach incorporating PICO, evidence grading, and consideration of diverse factors is key.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration and transparent procedures are fundamental to creating scientifically sound and implementable guidelines.