An instrument for evaluating the clinical applicability of guidelines

Zeng Linan; Yi Qiusha; Zhang Chuan; Huang Chao; Li Hailong; Yang Chunsong; Lin Mao; Huang Liang; Liu Dan; Kang Deying; Liu Guanjian; Liu Qiaolan; Zhao Rongsheng; Zhang Junhua; Li Youping; Liu Hanmin; Wang Qiang; Zhang Lingli

doi:10.1111/jebm.12416

An instrument for evaluating the clinical applicability of guidelines

J Evid Based Med. 2020 Oct 14;14(1):75-81. doi: 10.1111/jebm.12416. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zeng Linan^{1

2}, Yi Qiusha^{1

2

3}, Zhang Chuan^{1

2}, Huang Chao⁴, Li Hailong^{1

2}, Yang Chunsong^{1

2}, Lin Mao^{1

2

5}, Huang Liang^{1

2

5}, Liu Dan^{1

2}, Kang Deying⁶, Liu Guanjian⁶, Liu Qiaolan⁷, Zhao Rongsheng^{8

9}, Zhang Junhua¹⁰, Li Youping⁶, Liu Hanmin^{2

11}, Wang Qiang⁴, Zhang Lingli^{1

2

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy/Evidence-Based Pharmacy Centre, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
² Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, P.R. China.
³ West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
⁴ Medical Management Service Guidance Center, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, P.R. China.
⁵ West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
⁶ Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
⁷ West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
⁸ Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China.
⁹ Evidence-Based Pharmacy Committee, Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Beijing, P.R. China.
¹⁰ Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, P.R. China.
¹¹ Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.

Abstract

Objective: To establish an instrument for evaluating the clinical applicability of guidelines from the guideline-users' perspective.

Methods: We established this instrument through forming a working group, forming an initial list of items based on a qualitative systematic review, establishing initial instrument via two rounds of modified Delphi surveys, and external review the initial instrument.

Results: The results of modified Delphi surveys establishing appraisal aspects, appraisal items, general information of the evaluator met the preset requirements. The instrument includes three parts: general information of the evaluator (12 items), evaluation of clinical applicability (12 items, including items on the availability, readability, acceptability, feasibility, and overall applicability of guideline), and scoring scheme.

Conclusions: The instrument for evaluating the clinical applicability of guidelines from the guideline-users' perspective provides criteria and methods for improving the clinical applicability of guidelines during development and updating.

Keywords: clinical applicability; clinical practice guideline; evaluation instrument.

Grants and funding

National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China