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Table 4 Steps proposed for generating an initial list of topics when prioritizing guideline topics

From: Prioritization approaches in the development of health practice guidelines: a systematic review

Study

Description

Battista, 1995 [12]

Not reported

Field, 1995 [13]

Not reported

McClarey, 1999 [14]

1. Collect data using questionnaire from RCN professional groups and other RCN databases.

2. Collect information on patient priorities from representative groups and the literature.

3. Group topics by themes and accept that some might be arbitrary.

Oxman, 2006 [15]

Not reported

Ketola, 2007 [16]

1. Need for a new guideline arises in a specialist society or other source.

2. PRIO-tool from the ‘Current Care’ web site (http://www.kaypahoito.fi) is used to make a topic suggestion to the ‘Current Care’ board.

Reveiz, 2010 [17]

A thematic team (experts in the field and methodological consultant) would suggest three to five clinical topics that could potentially be selected for developing a clinical practice guideline.

Atkins, 2012 [18]

1. Survey clinicians, experts, and patients for candidate topics.

2. Create a list of topics using formal or informal (e.g., review of other guidelines).

3. Allow stakeholders to comment on scope and specific questions.

4. Identify issues arising from new and emerging technologies and treatments.

Schünemann, 2014 [8]

1. Decide who will oversee the process (e.g., priorities of the government, funding agency or professional society).

2. Apply specific criteria and use a transparent and systematic process to guide the suggestions of guideline topics.

Reddy, 2014 [19]

Not reported

Mounesan, 2016 [20]

1. Topic identification should be informed by evidence including: scientific evidence, available reports, expert opinion and/or needs assessment

2. Topic identification should be done separately for: prevention, diagnosis and treatment