Patient and public involvement in the development of clinical practice guidelines: a scoping review

Patient involvement in the development of patient-reported outcome measures used following hip or knee arthroplasty: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Involving patients in developing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is essential for accurately capturing their perspectives. However, understanding how patients were involved in developing PROMs used after hip or knee arthroplasty is limited. This scoping review aimed to evaluate whether patients were involved in the development of these PROMs and how they were involved.

METHODS

Two independent reviewers documented patient involvement in item development and comprehensibility testing for 50 PROMs used after hip or knee arthroplasty. Trends in patient involvement over time were analyzed using binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

There was no documentation of patient involvement in a collaborative role during the PROM development processes. Regarding the consultative role, of these 26 PROMs, they contributed to item development in 13 PROMs (26%) and comprehensibility testing in four PROMs (8%) and both item development and comprehensibility testing in nine PROMs (18%). Patients who underwent arthroplasty were involved in one or both phases in ten PROMs (20%), while patients with other lower extremity conditions were involved in 16 PROMs (32%). Patients who underwent arthroplasty contributed to both phases in five PROMs: Oxford Knee Score-Activity and Participation Questionnaire, Patient's Knee Implant Performance Questionnaire, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System R-Plus-Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Oxford Arthroplasty Early Recovery Score and Oxford Arthroplasty Early Change Score. In addition, our analysis revealed no significant change in patient involvement in a consultative role during either item development or comprehensibility evaluation over time since 1982, when the first PROM included in this review was developed (p = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of PROMs used after arthroplasty did not involve patients in their development, highlighting the need to address this gap in development of PROMs. There is also a need to analyze PROMs to ensure they accurately reflect the outcomes that matter to patients.

'We are the engine': a focus group study on clinical practice guideline development with European patient advocates for rare congenital malformations and/or intellectual disability

BACKGROUND

Individuals living with rare congenital malformations and/or intellectual disability often face challenges in accessing appropriate healthcare. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) may serve as a tool to provide evidence-based care for rare diseases, but their development is complex, and the views of affected individuals and families often remain unknown.

METHODS

Patient advocates of the European Reference Network ITHACA (Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies) participated in focus groups in which their experiences with and perspectives on CPG use and development were discussed.

RESULTS

Patient advocates considered CPGs relevant to address information and care needs and support advocacy efforts. Important characteristics included representation of heterogeneity within conditions, a holistic approach in which and how topics are addressed, user-friendly availability for individuals and families, and reliability of information. Guideline development and implementation were described as challenging, iterative processes in which effective partnership between clinicians, patient advocates, and other stakeholders is essential.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the perspectives of patient advocates is essential to develop CPGs that meet the life-long and complex care needs of individuals and families living with rare conditions. Identified challenges include balancing the urgency of information needs with thorough guideline development processes, as well as the integration and interpretation of different types of knowledge.

Incorporating ethics into infectious disease clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND

Incorporating ethics into clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) can be challenging. This is particularly evident for infectious diseases (ID) CPGs because of the complexity of ID ethics (IDE) and the multiplicity of populations at risk for infections.

OBJECTIVES

The OPENING project (IncOrPorating Ethics iN ClINical Guidelines: Practical Indications) was initiated by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Ethics Advisory Committee in collaboration with the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Guidelines Subcommittee to generate guidelines for the systematic inclusion of ethics principles into ID CPGs.

SOURCES

The first part of the project, presented here, aimed at: (a) performing a scoping review of articles published in PubMed and Google Scholar between 1990 and 2024 discussing ethics inclusion in CPGs; (b) reviewing guidance documents for ethics incorporation in documents from international societies; (c) outlining how the main ethics principles could be included in ID CPGs according to the results retrieved.

CONTENT

We retrieved 21 articles written between 1994 and 2024. None of these specifically focused on IDE. The main topic discussed in articles and societies' guidance was the inclusion of equity principles at different stages of CPGs development. Multiple authors also addressed how specific subgroups and disadvantaged populations should be considered in the preparation of CPGs. Involvement of patients and their representatives in CPGs was also advocated. A structured framework for the systematic inclusion of IDE principles in CPGs was suggested to summarize these points.

IMPLICATIONS

There is a lack of recommendations for incorporating ethics in ID CPGs. Efforts should be made by scientific societies to include ethics guidelines in ID CPGs to fill this gap.

[Pain management in geriatric patients-methods paper for the S3 guideline "GeriPAIN"]

Geriatric patients are characterized by an advanced age and typical geriatric multimorbidity. The prevalence of pain increases with age. In geriatric patients in particular, pain is one of the most frequently occurring characteristic complexes. In Germany, a trend has been observed that the prevalence and intensity of pain in older people has continued to increase in recent years. Pain management in this particularly vulnerable group poses major challenges for the patients themselves, their relatives and healthcare professionals. For this reason, the expiring S3 guideline on "Pain assessment in older people in full inpatient care for the elderly" will be taken up, updated and expanded to include pain therapy and extended to outpatient and acute inpatient care.

Seven principles for integrating health equity considerations in the practice guideline enterprise

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Health equity aims to provide all individuals with equal and fair opportunities to achieve optimal health. Practice guidelines can play a pivotal role in advancing health equity; yet, few organizations use tools to systematically integrate health equity considerations. Thus, it is important to establish a foundation for practical tools to support the systematic integration of health equity considerations. This manuscript proposes principles for the integration of health equity considerations in the practice guideline enterprise.

METHODS

In the process of developing an equity extension for the GIN-McMaster guideline development checklist, we established a diverse advisory group of guideline developers, patients, members of the public experiencing inequities, health equity researchers, and guideline developers. We formulated the principles informed by a methodological review of guideline handbooks and iterative discussions between working group members.

RESULTS

We identified the following seven principles for integrating health equity considerations into the practice guideline enterprise: (1) articulating health equity, (2) a priori planning for considering health equity, (3) selection and engagement of individuals with lived experiences of inequities, (4) equity in evidence synthesis, (5) developing equity-informed recommendations, (6) inclusive knowledge mobilization, and (7) evaluating the impact of health equity considerations. We elaborated on the importance of the principles using published examples and mapped them to the different phases of the guideline development process.

CONCLUSION

Guideline developers should adhere to these principles in the development of guidelines and health equity guideline development and appraisal tools. These principles are the foundational concepts for developing health equity extension items for the GIN-McMaster guideline development checklist.

Co-design of family interventions in cancer: a scoping review protocol to assess key methods and processes

INTRODUCTION

Cancer affects not only patients but also their families, increasing the risk of stress-related illnesses among family members. Despite the development of various support interventions, family members continue to report unmet support needs, largely due to the limited implementation of these interventions into routine care or their lack of relevance to family needs. Co-design approaches, which involve stakeholders in the development process, are recommended to enhance both implementation and relevance. This scoping review aims to map the available evidence on co-design approaches in family interventions within oncology, examining key themes, methodologies and outcomes of interventions.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. The review will follow five stages: identifying the research questions, retrieving relevant studies, selecting studies, charting data and collating, summarising and reporting the results. The research will focus on co-design approaches in family interventions in oncology, exploring activities involved, barriers encountered and their impact on outcomes. A comprehensive search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases in August 2024, with no date restrictions, and articles will be selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. Study selection will be performed independently by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third. All reviewers will carry out the data extraction. Data will be analysed using descriptive content analysis and presented through narrative summaries, tables and diagrams to highlight study characteristics and research aims. The findings will inform future research and practice, offering insights into co-design strategies in family interventions in oncology.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not needed as this scoping review does not involve collecting data from human participants. The results produced from this review will be submitted to a scientific peer-reviewed journal for publication and will be presented at scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION DETAILS: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2RWB9.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Services, Risk Management, and Infection Prevention in Surgical Settings: A Qualitative Study

Background/Objective In every surgical environment, the prevention of surgical site infections is not merely desirable but essential, given their profound impact on patient health and healthcare costs. To optimize patient care during surgery, a thorough exploration and assessment of all intraoperative nursing practices are necessary, guided by empirical evidence. The aim of this study was to explore nurses' experiences with surgical site infection prevention practices in the intraoperative setting. Methods Twenty-one nurses working in clinical settings in Hong Kong participated in semi-structured interviews for this qualitative study. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Results Four main themes were identified from the interview data: ensuring safety and minimizing threats; facing silent, intangible, and hidden risks; team collaboration in eliminating risks; and persistent knowledge acquisition. Conclusions Nurses encountered diverse obstacles tied to teamwork, updated knowledge, communication, and patient safety. Enhanced quality of care in clinical settings can be achieved through strategic implementations. Focusing on quality improvement initiatives, establishing consistent teams, and recognizing the vital role of nurses strengthen care delivery. These actions contribute significantly to preventing surgical site infections and ensuring patient safety during intraoperative nursing practices.

Unravelling Education Needs for Clinical Practice Guideline Development: A Survey Performed in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVE

The development of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) has evolved into a rigorous and complex process. There is a need for training of CPG developers including methodologists, panel members and patient representatives. This study explored the educational needs and experiences of CPG developers, with specific attention to the patient perspective and economic considerations.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

An anonymised mixed-method survey was distributed among CPG developers and panel members in the Netherlands. The survey, developed in collaboration with Dutch CPG development organisations and patient organisations, aimed to capture insights into the developers' roles, training needs, and the incorporation of economic considerations and patient perspectives in CPG development. Data analysis involved qualitative content analysis and descriptive quantitative analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 271 responses were analysed. Respondents described role-specific tasks and tasks overlapping between roles. Experience, guidance, and training influenced the respondents' feeling of preparedness for their tasks. Respondents expressed the need for content-related training, including CPG development methodology. They also raised the importance of process-related topics in training, such as the inclusion of different perspectives and responsibilities during CPG development. About half of the respondents (46%) indicated that economic considerations were included in their CPGs, however, there was no uniformity in approach. The patient perspective was included by 89% of the respondents, also in varying manners. Overall, respondents underscored the importance of both topics in CPG development (training) to ensure a future-proof healthcare system.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the importance of tailored CPG development training programmes addressing the specific competencies required for the different roles in CPG development. Thereby, recognising a holistic approach encompassing both content- and process-related aspects. Addressing economic considerations and the patient perspective in training will contribute to CPGs that support a patient-centred and sustainable healthcare system.

[Involvement of representatives of patients and relatives in guideline processes : S3 guidelines on psychosocial therapies for severe mental illnesses breaks new ground]

BACKGROUND

The participation of representatives of patients and relatives in the development of guidelines is of central importance for the quality, feasibility and acceptance of guidelines. In Germany this has not been sufficiently implemented in the discipline of psychiatry, although in practice there are many examples for the benefits of the expertise of people with psychiatric experience.

OBJECTIVE

The article describes the development and a first process evaluation of a trialogical working group (AG Impuls) accompanying the guideline process. Possibilities for further development and implementation are discussed.

METHODS

Description of the working process of the Impuls working group as well as the results of the satisfaction survey after 18 months and summarised content analysis.

RESULTS

Concept: during the further development of the S3 guidelines on psychosocial therapies, the expertise of 12 experts is bundled in the Impuls working group and supported by the members of the steering group. An open discussion takes place in regular digital working meetings and face to face meetings are held once a year as part of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (DGPPN) congress. The results are presented to the guideline committee at the consensus conferences. Text boxes from the Impuls working group constitute an important tool.

EVALUATION

the following topics were identified in connection with the participatory work: (a) exchange at eye level, broadening perspectives and contributing impulses, (b) giving a voice to experienced experts, (c) implementation requirements and possibilities and (d) limitations of the cooperation. Various preconditions and implementation requirements for long-term successful participation in guideline development were identified.

CONCLUSION

The Impuls working group can be used to specifically address insufficient participation in guideline processes. The structured approach could form a blueprint for other guideline processes.

Nonpharmacological Spine Pain Management in Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Systematic Review Using AGREE II and AGREE-REX Tools

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the content and critically appraise the quality and applicability of recent clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for nonpharmacological, nonsurgical management of spine pain. DESIGN: Systematic review of CPGs. LITERATURE SEARCH: Six databases and seven guideline clearinghouses. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Included de novo CPGs for nonpharmacological, nonsurgical management of spine pain designed for any primary health care providers, published in English, Arabic, French, or traditional Chinese within the past 12 years. DATA SYNTHESIS: Five reviewers independently appraised the guidelines using AGREE II and AGREE-REX. Interrater agreements were calculated for each domain and the total score of these tools using the intraclass correlation coefficient (2, 1) with absolute agreement. RESULTS: We included 30 CPGs, primarily (90%) developed in Western countries, which contained 404 recommendations. High-quality CPGs consistently recommended exercise therapy and multimodal care, encompassing a combination of exercises, mobilization/manipulation, education, alternative medicine, and cognitive-behavioral treatments. Generally, CPGs did not recommend assistive (eg, corsets and orthosis) devices or electro/thermotherapies (eg, therapeutic ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). Approximately half of the CPGs demonstrated good methodological quality according to AGREE II, whereas the rest were of poor quality. On the AGREE-REX assessment, one third of the recommendations were of excellent quality. CONCLUSION: Although recent guidelines frequently recommended exercise therapy and multimodal care for the management of spine pain, their recommendations often overlooked demographics and comorbidities. Despite methodological improvements, most CPGs lacked simple clinical applicability and considerations of knowledge users' values. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2025;55(1):1-14. Epub 4 November 2024. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12729.

Equitable and effective clinical guidance development and dissemination: trauma aims to lead the way

Thirty-four per cent of deaths among Americans aged 1-46 are due to injury, and many of these deaths could be prevented if all hospitals performed as well as the highest-performing hospitals. The Institute of Medicine and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine have called for learning health systems, with emphasis on clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) as a means of limiting preventable deaths. Reduction in mortality has been demonstrated when evidence-based trauma CPGs are adhered to; however, guidelines are variably updated, redundant, absent, inaccessible, or perceived as irrelevant. Ultimately, these barriers result in poor guideline implementation and preventable patient deaths. This multidisciplinary group of injury providers, clinical guidance developers and end users, public health and health policy experts and implementation scientists propose key areas for consideration in the definition of an ideal future state for clinical guidance development and dissemination. Suggestions include (1): professional societies collaborate rather than compete for guideline development.(2) Design primary clinical research for implementation, and where relevant, with guideline development in mind.(3) Select clinical topics for guideline development through systematic prioritization, with an emphasis on patient-centered outcomes.(4) Develop guideline authorship groups with a focus on transparency, equity of opportunity and diversity of representation.(5) Establish a plan for regular review and updating and provide the date the guideline was last updated for transparency.(6) Integrate options for adapting the guideline to local resources and needs at the time of development.(7) Make guidelines available on a platform that allows for open feedback and utilization tracking.(8) Improve discoverability of guidelines.(9) Optimize user-experience with a focus on inclusion of bedside-ready, mobile-friendly infographics, tables or algorithms when feasible.(10) Use open access and open licenses.(11) Disseminate clinical guidance via comprehensive and equitable communication channels. Guidelines are key to improve patient outcomes. The proposed focus to ensure trauma guidelines are equitably and effectively developed and disseminated globally.

Children's participation in the development, use and evaluation of support interventions for children of a parent diagnosed with cancer: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

At times of parental cancer, children's health and well-being are at risk, which is why interventions to support these children have been developed. When developing such interventions, engagement of the population under study in research is endorsed to enhance relevance of research questions and to enhance uptake and dissemination of the findings. Since no previous review has mapped the ways children participate in the development, use and evaluation of these support interventions, the focus of the upcoming scoping review is to identify gaps in the literature for guidance of future research.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The scoping review is guided by the methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley. A preliminary search strategy was performed in PubMed in November 2020, refined in March 2021 and applied in PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL. Additional searches were performed in Google Scholar and SwePub, and reference lists were hand searched. Refined searches will be conducted in February 2024. The multidisciplinary research team will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles for relevance. Then, relevant studies will be critically evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Skills Tools. Data will be extracted using an extraction form and analysed deductively. A descriptive summary of study characteristics and the research process will be presented, including a flow chart. The reporting of the study will be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Being a secondary analysis, ethical approval is not needed. Still, relevant studies will be reviewed for ethical approval as a criterion for inclusion. The findings will be used to inform future studies and will be published in a scientific journal as well as presented at conferences and organisations for children's rights.

Barriers and facilitators to physical activity: A comparative analysis of transplant athletes competing in high intensity sporting events with other transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

There is widespread recognition that many transplant recipients struggle to become and remain physically active. However, some transplant recipients do undertake strenuous training and significant physical activity (PA) and participate in intensive sports.

AIM

This study sought to understand facilitators and barriers to be physically active for Transplant Athletes (TXA) compared to a group of Dutch transplantees. This explorative mixed methods study analysed race performance and interview data from TxA who participated in cycling and/or the sprint triathlon at the World Transplant Games 2023, and compared their lived experiences in terms of barriers and facilitators of PA with those of 16 transplantees in a study from the Netherlands previously published in this journal.

METHODS

Using Patient and Public Involvement and engagement (PPI), race data from World Transplant Games 2023 and subsequent in-depth interviews were used from 27 TxA. A visual artefact of barriers and facilitators from the previous Dutch study was used to prompt identification and discussion of barriers and facilitators of PA. Interview data were coded by three coders.

RESULTS

Many of the barriers to PA previously reported by Dutch transplant recipients were not shared by the majority of TxA in this study. The TxA in this study reported significantly lower physical limitations, lower fear to undertake exercise, and no comorbidity issues for TxA. Furthermore, TxA perceived they received substantial social support, had the strength to do PA, and were in control of their weight.

CONCLUSION

Several TxA reported a lack of understanding from medical and other professionals about the appropriate intensity of PA. An evidence-based framework of PA for transplant recipients and transplant athletes is needed for safe and appropriate PA.

Exploring Diet-Based Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation: Patient Empowerment and Citizen Science as a Model for Quality-of-Life-Centered Solutions

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the Western world. Between the years 2010 and 2019, the global prevalence of AF rose from 33.5 million to 59 million, highlighting the importance of developing equitable treatments for patients. The disease is associated with symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive dysfunction. In addition, AF increases the risk of developing a stroke and heart failure. Despite new insights into risk factors that can lead to the development of AF, the success of current treatments is suboptimal. Numerous risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, have been associated with the development and progression of AF. As these can be lifestyle-related risk factors, lifestyle modification may be a solution to reduce AF-related symptoms as well as episodes. Research results show that certain dietary changes can reduce AF and numerous risk factors for AF. Increasing attention is being given to Mediterranean and whole, plant-based eating patterns, which emphasize eating grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and nuts, while excluding most-or all-animal products. Hence, what are the beneficial aspects of a Mediterranean and plant-based diet which consists mainly of unprocessed foods? In the current review, we discuss the outcomes of diet-based treatments. Moreover, other diet-related treatments, brought up by patient initiatives, are highlighted. These patient-initiated studies include L-glutamine and electrolytes as options to manage AF. Also, we highlight the emerging importance of valuing patient needs and a quality-of-life-centered approach to medicine. As indicated by recent studies and patient experiences, citizen science can create inclusive solutions that lead to patient empowerment and a holistic approach for AF management.

Moving toward the Development and Effective Implementation of High-Quality Guidelines in Pediatric Surgery: A Review of the Literature

Applying evidence-based guidelines can enhance the quality of patient care. While robust guideline development methodology ensures credibility and validity, methodological variations can impact guideline quality. Besides methodological rigor, effective implementation is crucial for achieving improved health outcomes. This review provides an overview of recent literature pertaining to the development and implementation of guidelines in pediatric surgery. Literature was reviewed to provide an overview of sound guideline development methodologies and approaches to promote effective guideline implementation. Challenges specific to pediatric surgery were highlighted. A search was performed to identify published guidelines relevant to pediatric surgery from 2018 to June 2023, and their quality was collectively appraised using the AGREE II instrument. High-quality guideline development can be promoted by using methodologically sound tools such as the Guidelines 2.0 checklist, the GRADE system, and the AGREE II instrument. While implementation can be promoted during guideline development and post-publication, its effectiveness may be influenced by various factors. Challenges pertinent to pediatric surgery, such as limited evidence and difficulties with outcome selection and heterogeneity, may impact guideline quality and effective implementation. Fifteen guidelines were identified and collectively appraised as suboptimal, with a mean overall AGREE II score of 58%, with applicability being the lowest scoring domain. There are identified challenges and barriers to the development and effective implementation of high-quality guidelines in pediatric surgery. It is valuable to prioritize the identification of adapted, innovative methodological strategies and the use of implementation science to understand and achieve effective guideline implementation.

Citizen science to improve patient and public involvement in GUideline Implementation in oral health and DEntistry (the GUIDE platform)

BACKGROUND

Citizen science is a way to democratise science by involving groups of citizens in the research process. Clinical guidelines are used to improve practice, but their implementation can be limited. Involving patients and the public can enhance guideline implementation, but there is uncertainty about the best approaches to achieve this. Citizen science is a potential way to involve patients and the public in improving clinical guideline implementation. We aimed to explore the application of citizen science methods to involve patients and the public in the dissemination and implementation of clinical guidelines in oral health and dentistry.

METHODS

We developed GUIDE (GUideline Implementation in oral health and DEntistry), a citizen science online platform, using a participatory approach with researchers, oral health professionals, guideline developers and citizens. Recruitment was conducted exclusively online. The platform focused on prespecified challenges related to oral health assessment guidelines, and asked citizens to generate ideas, as well as vote and comment on other citizens' ideas to improve those challenges. Citizens also shared their views via surveys and two online synchronous group meetings. Data were collected on participant's demographics, platform engagement and experience of taking part. The most promising idea category was identified by an advisory group based on engagement, feasibility and relevance. We presented quantitative data using descriptive statistics and analysed qualitative data using inductive and deductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The platform was open for 6 months and we recruited 189 citizens, from which over 90 citizens actively engaged with the platform. Most citizens were over 34 years (64%), female (58%) and had a university degree (50%). They generated 128 ideas, 146 comments and 248 votes. The challenge that led to most engagement was related to prevention and oral health self-care. To take this challenge forward, citizens generated a further 36 ideas to improve a pre-existing National Health Service oral care prevention leaflet. Citizens discussed motivations to take part in the platform (understanding, values, self-care), reasons to stay engaged (communication and feedback, outputs and impact, and relevance of topics discussed) and suggestions to improve future platforms.

CONCLUSION

Citizen science is an effective approach to generate and prioritise ideas from a group of citizens to improve oral health and dental services. Prevention and oral health self-care were of particular interest to citizens. More research is needed to ensure recruitment of a diverse group of citizens and to improve retention in citizen science projects.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

This project was inherently conducted with the input of public partners (citizen scientists) in all key aspects of its conduct and interpretation. In addition, two public partners were part of the research team and contributed to the design of the project, as well as key decisions related to its conduct, analysis, interpretation and dissemination and are co-authors of this manuscript.

Barriers and facilitators in developing patient versions of clinical practice guidelines - qualitative interviews on experiences of international guideline producers

BACKGROUND

Several guideline organizations produce patient versions of clinical practice guidelines (PVGs) which translate recommendations into simple language. A former study of our working group revealed that few guideline organizations publish their methods used to develop PVGs. Clear definitions of PVGs do not prevail and their purposes often remain unclear. We aimed to explore experts' perspectives on developing, disseminating and implementing PVGs to discuss and incorporate these experiences when consenting on methodological guidance and further improving PVGs.

METHODS

We conducted 17 semi-structured telephone interviews with international experts working with PVGs from September 2021 through January 2022. We conducted the interviews in English or German, they were recorded and transcribed verbatim. We utilized Mayring's qualitative content analysis with MAXQDA software to analyze the data.

RESULTS

In two interviews two participants were interviewed at the same time. This resulted in a total of 19 participants from 16 different organizations and eight different countries participated. Most were female (16/19) and their experience in working with PVGs ranged from 1 to 20 years. All follow methodological standards when developing PVGs, but the extent of these standards and their public accessibility differs. Aims and target groups of PVGs vary between organizations. Facilitators for developing PVGs are working with a multidisciplinary team, financial resources, consultation processes and a high-quality underlying CPG. Facilitators for disseminating and implementing PVGs are using various strategies. Barriers, on the other hand, are the lack of these factors. All participants mentioned patient involvement as a key aspect in PVG development.

CONCLUSION

The steps in the PVG development process are largely similar across the countries. Focus is placed on the involvement of patients in the development process, although the extent of participation varies. The experts collectively attribute great importance to PVGs overall, but in order to constantly adapt to medical progress and changing conditions, the focus in the future may be more on formats like living guidelines. Although there are different views on the mandatory development of PVGs, there is a consistent call for more transparency regarding the methodology used for PVGs.

[How Successful is the Participation of People with Mental Illness and Family Members in the Development of Evidence- and Consensus-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines? Results of a Survey in Psychiatry]

OBJECTIVE

The study examines how successful the participation of people with mental illness and family members is currently in the development of psychiatric guidelines.

METHODS

Survey results of N=561 (Response 37%) guideline developers are analyzed.

RESULTS

Involvement of affected individuals succeeds more often than that of family members (61% vs. 55%). 68% felt that this participation was central to successful guideline development. 51% perceived discrepancies between empirical evidence and experience perspective. 33-36% perceived a lack of appreciation of experience expertise, 37% an insufficient representation and 46% an inequality in consensus building. 45% did not see barriers effectively removed.

CONCLUSION

There remain challenges in the participation of people with mental illness and family members. There is an increasing awareness that their participation is central.

[Participation of Patients in the Development of Clinical Guidelines: A Selective Country Comparison in a Narrative Review]

AIM

A clinical practice guideline aims to optimize patient care by recommending diagnostic or treatment pathways, based on the best available research and practical experience. Therefore, the needs and preferences of patients and their families should be incorporated. The aim of this study was to examine regulations and standards of patient involvement in guideline development, using a selective comparison of countries.

METHOD

Information was extracted from publicly available websites and guidelines development manuals for the United Kingdom (UK), the United States, Canada, and Australia. They were compared and discussed in a narrative review.

RESULTS

In the UK, at least two people from among patients or the public must be involved in all guideline development committees and during all stages of the development process. The US National Academy of Medicine recommends active participation in guideline development groups by patients with disease-specific experience and patient representatives from the public. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care wants patient preferences to be involved, especially in the development of final guideline recommendations and usability testing. In Australia, guidelines receive the approval or seal of approval of the National Health and Medical Research Council if at least one patient representative can be shown to have been a member of the committee and to have been involved in the entire process of guideline development.

CONCLUSION

The selective country comparison shows that patient involvement in guideline development and the binding nature of the rules vary considerably, and that there are no uniform standards for involvement. Many issues of involvement are unresolved, and special sensitivity will be needed to bring together the life and experiences of patients/laypersons and the medical system on an equal footing.

Innovative Remote Management Solutions for the Control of Hypertension

We stand at a critical juncture in the delivery of health care for hypertension. Blood pressure control rates have stagnated, and traditional health care is failing. Fortunately, hypertension is exceptionally well-suited to remote management, and innovative digital solutions are proliferating. Early strategies arose with the spread of digital medicine, long before the COVID-19 pandemic forced lasting changes to the way medicine is practiced. Highlighting one contemporary example, this review explores salient features of remote management hypertensive programs, including: an automated algorithm to guide clinical decisions, home (as opposed to office) blood pressure measurements, an interdisciplinary care team, and robust information technology and analytics. Dozens of emerging hypertension management solutions are contributing to a highly fragmented and competitive landscape. Beyond viability, profit and scalability are critical. We explore the challenges impeding large-scale acceptance of these programs and conclude with a hopeful look to the future when remote hypertension care will have dramatic impact on global cardiovascular health.

Tinnitus Guidelines and Their Evidence Base

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is generally accepted as the gold standard for high-quality medicine and, thus, for managing patients with tinnitus. EBM integrates the best available scientific information with clinical experience and patient values to guide decision-making about clinical management. To help health care providers and clinicians, the available evidence is commonly translated into medical or clinical guidelines based on a consensus. These involve a systematic review of the literature and meta-analytic aggregation of research findings followed by the formulation of clinical recommendations. However, this approach also has limitations, which include a lack of consideration of individual patient characteristics, the susceptibility of guideline recommendations to material and immaterial conflicts of interest of guideline authors and long latencies till new knowledge is implemented in guidelines. A further important aspect in interpreting the existing literature is that the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. These circumstances could result in the decoupling of recommendations and their supporting evidence, which becomes evident when guidelines from different countries differ in their recommendations. This opinion paper will discuss how these weaknesses can be addressed in tinnitus.