gms | German Medical Science

Background/research question: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) aim to promote decision-making of health professionals and patients by providing explicit recommendations. Many guideline organizations also produce patient versions of CPG (PVoG), that go along with the corresponding CPGs and are therefore based on systematic research and on the current state of knowledge. At present, data about the timeliness of PVoGs in Germany and corresponding potential methodological influencing factors are not available. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to perform a mixed-methods analysis on the timeliness of national PVoGs and the potential methodological influence factors.

Methods: The mixed-methods analysis comprises two main modules. In module 1, a literature search will be conducted between October and November 2022 by screening the websites of the main German guideline organizations to identify PVoGs. Additionally, a manual search will be conducted in google and the reference lists of identified PVoGs will be screened. PVoGs will be included, if they fulfil the following criteria: published in German, free accessible, defined as PVoG by authors, explicit link to corresponding CPG, current final version, date of research strategy of CPG available, publication date of PVoG available and PVoG contains explicit recommendations from CPG. In module 2, further potential methodological influence factors will be explored by conducting interviews with PVoG developers (n=5-10) who will be identified within module 1. They will be contacted via e-mail. The interviews will be analysed using qualitative content analysis (following Mayring) with MAXQDA software.

Preliminary/expected results, outlook: In the initial search on the websites of the main German guideline organizations, a total of 612 items were identified. Additionally, 107 items were identified within the Google search. Broadly, the currently identified PVoGs differ regarding their extent and layout, suggesting different levels of time expenditure in the development of PVoGs. There was also a variation in the presentation and reporting of information within the CPGs, PVoGs and methods reports. Within the interviews (module 2) the reasons for these variations will be investigated along with barriers and facilitators in PVoG development.

Competing interests: JB and NK are involved in the development of clinical guidelines.