Report on the RCDS-CDHSRU workshop on developing clinical guidelines/standards of practice

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

• Clinical guidelines are mandated under Regulated Health Professions Legislation.
• The Community Dental Health Services Research Unit (CDHSRU) aimed to test a guideline development model.
• A workshop was convened by the quality assurance committee of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To test a model for developing clinical guidelines/standards of practice.
• To recommend steps for the RCDS to follow in developing standards of practice.
• To develop evidence-based recommendations for managing smooth surface enamel lesions in permanent teeth.

Main Methods:

• A three-day workshop involving 42 participants (dentists, public, professionals).
• Participants used a real clinical topic (enamel lesion management) to develop and test guidelines.
• Small groups worked on evidence-based recommendations, revised them based on feedback, and contributed to overall recommendations.

Main Results:

• Preliminary evidence-based recommendations on managing enamel smooth-surface caries were developed.
• Participants recommended a seven-step process for future clinical practice guideline development in Ontario.
• The workshop provided direct experience in guideline development steps.

Conclusions:

• The workshop successfully tested a model for clinical guideline development.
• A seven-step process was recommended for the RCDS's future guideline development.
• The developed recommendations are not yet RCDS policy but offer a framework.