gms | German Medical Science

G-I-N Conference 2012

Guidelines International Network

22.08 - 25.08.2012, Berlin

Identifying health care problems: Health service research methods in the context of guideline development

Meeting Abstract

  • T. Langer - Agency for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ), Berlin, Germany
  • D. Rütters - Agency for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ), Berlin, Germany
  • C. Khan - Agency for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ), Berlin, Germany
  • J. Köpp - Agency for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ), Berlin, Germany
  • S. Weinbrenner - Agency for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ), Berlin, Germany
  • G. Ollenschläger - Agency for Quality in Medicine (ÄZQ), Berlin, Germany

Guidelines International Network. G-I-N Conference 2012. Berlin, 22.-25.08.2012. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2012. DocP075

doi: 10.3205/12gin187, urn:nbn:de:0183-12gin1870

Veröffentlicht: 10. Juli 2012

© 2012 Langer et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Background: Guidelines might be particularly beneficial in areas of great variability, uncertainty and quality problems. Focusing on such areas could enhance efficacy and efficiency of guideline development.

Objective: We aimed to explore methods of health care research that are used to support priority setting in guideline development.

Methods: We searched Pubmed and the Cochrane Library up to October 2011 for publications on health care research conducted or used by guideline developers. We also screened manuals of established guideline programs. In addition we electronically screened all German evidence-based guidelines via key words. Findings were extracted and results analysed descriptively.

Results: Our literature search revealed only 2 publications reporting on health service research conducted by guideline groups. Overall 12 manuals and 151 German guidelines were screened. Methods to explore specific problems in health care comprised statistical surveys, qualitative research methods like focus groups, analysis of routine data or data based on quality measures. Uncertainty and variability were also assed by comparison of guideline recommendations. We found no guideline manual including a description of methods used to explore areas of particular need for guidance beyond expert consultation.

Discussion: There are several methodological approaches available to explore areas of particular need for guidance in the context of guideline development. Our results indicate that up to now data on health service research has not been systematically incorporated into guideline development to support priority setting.

Implications: Methods, effort expenditures and benefits of health service research in guideline development should be further investigated.