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The quality of E uropean dermatological guidelines: critical appraisal of the quality of EDF guidelines using the AGREE II instrument
Author(s) -
Werner R.N.,
Marinović B.,
Rosumeck S.,
Strohal R.,
Haering N.S.,
Weberschock T.,
Dreher A.C.,
Nast A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/jdv.13358
Subject(s) - clarity , medicine , systematic review , critical appraisal , quality (philosophy) , medical education , strengths and weaknesses , valuation (finance) , scope (computer science) , evidence based medicine , medline , alternative medicine , psychology , computer science , pathology , accounting , social psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , philosophy , epistemology , political science , law , programming language , business
Clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed tools to assist clinicians and health policy makers in decision making for clearly defined clinical situations. In the light of the demand for evidence‐based medicine and quality in health care and the increasing methodological requirements concerning guidelines development, it is important to evaluate existing practice guidelines to systematically identify strengths and weaknesses. Currently, the most accepted tool for the methodological evaluation of guidelines is the A ppraisal of G uidelines for R esearch & E valuation ( AGREE ) I nstrument. Intention of this assessment is to identify and critically appraise clinical practice guidelines commissioned by the E uropean D ermatology F orum ( EDF ). A quality assessment of a predefined set of guidelines, including all available clinical practice guidelines published on the EDF guidelines internet site, was performed using the AGREE II instrument. To assure an objective assessment, four independent assessments were performed by evaluators situated in different E uropean countries. Twenty‐five EDF guidelines covering different dermatological topics were identified and evaluated. The assessment included seven guidelines developed on the highest methodological standard (systematic literature search and structured consensus conference, S 3). Eighteen guidelines were identified that were based on either a structured consensus process ( S 2k), a systematic literature assessment ( S 2e) or on informal consensus only ( S 1). The methodological and reporting quality among the evaluated guidelines was heterogeneous. S 3 guidelines generally received the highest scores. The domains ‘clarity of presentation’ and ‘scope and purpose’ achieved the highest mean ratings within the different domains of assessment, whereas the domains of ‘applicability’, ‘stakeholder involvement’ and ‘editorial independence’ scored poorly. Considering the large variations in the achieved scores, there is need for methodological harmonization within the EDF guidelines to achieve comparable methodological standards.