gms | German Medical Science

Background: All support and training is aimed at facilitating patient's integration in guideline development groups (GDG). There are hardly any strategies to help healthcare professionals to incorporate patients' participation in the development of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs).

Objectives: Provide methods and strategies to help healthcare professionals to incorporate patient's perspective in CPGs.

Methods: A working group (WG) with professionals and patients, both with experience in development and patient involvement in CPGs was formed. The structure followed the phases of the National Methodological Handbook to develop CPG. The content that should be addressed in the handbook was based on the best available evidence and in the experience of WG. Final draft was send to health professionals and patient's associations for external review.

Results: This handbook is divided into two parts. First part, describes different strategies (qualitative and quantitative) that can be used to identify patients' relevant issues to be addressed in the CPGs (patient consultation). Second part shows how patients could participate as members of the GDG in each phase of the development process, including as well CPG dissemination, implementation and development of patient information.

Discussion: This handbook contributes to provide strategies to incorporate patient's views in the CPG development process Implications for guideline developers/users This handbook could help to achieve a quality patient-oriented CPGs and facilitate adherence to their recommendations.