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A model for the development of evidence‐based clinical guidelines at local level ‐ the Leicestershire Genital Chlamydia Guidelines Project
Author(s) -
MRCGP Tim Stokes MPH,
MFPHM Rashmi Shukla MRCP,
FRCP Paul Schober,
FRCGP Richard Baker MO
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2753.1998.tb00096.x
Subject(s) - guideline , multidisciplinary approach , medicine , family medicine , evidence based practice , public health , chlamydia , evidence based medicine , medical education , nursing , alternative medicine , political science , pathology , law , immunology
Clinical guidelines can be effective in achieving health gain when they are validly developed, disseminated and implemented appropriately. There is, however, a potential conflict between the need for validity through use of expert resources available at a national level, and implementation, which is undertaken at local level and depends on the local relevance of the guideline. This paper presents a model by which valid guidelines for the management of a given disease (genital chlamydial infection) by general practitioners can be developed at local level using the resources available to a district health authority department of public health. The model has three elements. First, a district‐wide postal questionnaire survey was used to document current clinical practice. Secondly, a critical review of the evidence relating to the management of genital chlamydial infection as it relates to British general practice was performed. Thirdly, the information gained from the critical review and survey was used by a multidisciplinary group to develop evidence‐based guideline recommendations. It is argued that the Leicestershire Genital Chlamydia Guidelines compare favourably with other recently published national guidelines in terms of their development and content. Local guideline development of guidelines for selected topics can be practical and appropriate.