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A Manual for Prioritizing the Topics of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Family Physicians Publisher



Mounesan L1 ; Sayarifard A2 ; Haghjou L2 ; Ghadirian L3 ; Rajabi F4 ; Nedjat S5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Center for Academic and Health Policy, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Community Based Participatory Research Center, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, and Center for Academic and Health Policy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Center for Academic and Health Policy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Knowledge Utilization Research Centre, School of Public Health, Tehran, Iran

Source: International Journal of Preventive Medicine Published:2016


Abstract

Background: Development of a manual or well-defined criterion for prioritizing the topics of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) will help validate and organize this process evermore. This study was conducted to design an applicable manual that would prioritize the CPG topics for family physicians. Methods: This study was a multi-stage method using a qualitative approach that was conducted for the manual developing. The manual development process took place in four steps, as follows: Literature review, interviews with ten experts, preparing a list of criteria and determining its appropriateness by applying the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness method, and development of the final draft of the manual and pilot study. Results: Interview transcripts went under content analysis and were classified into eight main groups, 12 subgroups, and 85 themes. A comprehensive list consisting of fifty preliminary criteria were extracted. After summarizing and classifying the criteria, 12 appropriate criteria were evaluated using the RAND appropriateness method. Eventually, based on the literature review and our own results of the interview analysis, a manual consisting of five main sections and one clause on ethics was developed. Later, a pilot study was conducted on ten family physician topics, and prioritized by nine experts. Conclusions: The manual can be eyed as a tool ensuring the quality of the process of prioritizing CPG topics for family physicians, as it takes into account the issues involved in priority-setting. Selecting informed stakeholders for rating the criteria and ranking the topics was an issue that was greatly emphasized by the experts. Eventually, the application of this manual can be the first step toward systematizing the process of prioritizing CPG topics in the country. © 2016 International Journal of Preventive Medicine.