Study protocol for developing the evaluation instrument of guideline adherence to GRADE approach (GRADE-Check)


Por: Jin, YH, Yan, SY, Yao, XM, Dahm, P, Alonso-Coello, P, Brignardello-Petersen, R, Keitz, S, Rylance, J, Cheung, M, Agoritsas, T, Kunkle, R, Murad, MH, Guyatt, G

Publicada: 9 nov 2025
Resumen:
Introduction Many clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) claim to use Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, but its implementation varies. This suggests that CPG developers, methodologists and users would benefit from an instrument to evaluate the extent to which CPGs adhere to GRADE approach. Such a structured instrument is currently unavailable. Accordingly, this study will develop an evaluation instrument for assessing guideline adherence to the GRADE approach, which we have named 'GRADE-Check'. The goal is to target items to which CPGs fail to adhere and that potentially have serious consequences resulting in inaccuracies in certainty of evidence and inappropriate direction or strength of recommendations, thereby discriminating across CPGs in issues of importance. Methods and analysis The panel will include up to 25 individuals with specific knowledge and expertise, including experienced authors, educators and methodologists on CPGs methodology and GRADE approach from relevant organisations. The instrument will focus on the key elements of GRADE, aiming for clarity for GRADE experts and non-GRADE experts to apply. The development process for GRADE-Check will consist of the following five phases: (1) recruitment of a panel of GRADE experts; (2) development of objectives and scope for the development of GRADE-Check and criteria for item selection; (3) generation of candidate items through a literature review and panel consultation; (4) panellist discussion to construct the initial draft and extended explanation manual and (5) user testing. Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (no. (2025047K)). Our research findings will be published in peer-reviewed journal articles and presented at academic conferences. Additionally, the dissemination plan will include considerations for the development of implementation manuals, a dedicated project website and training tools.

Filiaciones:
Jin, YH:
 Wuhan Univ, Ctr Evidence Based & Translat Med, Zhongnan Hosp, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China

 Wuhan Univ, Clin Coll 2, Sch Med, Dept Evidence Based Med & Clin Epidemiol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China

Yan, SY:
 Wuhan Univ, Ctr Evidence Based & Translat Med, Zhongnan Hosp, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China

 Wuhan Univ, Clin Coll 2, Sch Med, Dept Evidence Based Med & Clin Epidemiol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China

Yao, XM:
 McMaster Univ, Dept Hlth Res Methods Evidence & Impact, Hamilton, ON, Canada

 McMaster Univ, Dept Oncol, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Dahm, P:
 Univ Minnesota, Dept Urol, Minneapolis, MN USA

 Minneapolis VA Hlth Care Syst, Urol Sect, Minneapolis, MN USA

Alonso-Coello, P:
 Inst Recerca St Pau, Barcelona, Spain

 Ctr Cochrane Iberoamer, Barcelona, Spain

 Inst Salud Carlos III, Ctr Nacl Epidemiol, Madrid, Spain

Brignardello-Petersen, R:
 McMaster Univ, Dept Hlth Res Methods Evidence & Impact, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Keitz, S:
 Lahey Hosp & Med Ctr, Dept Med, Burlington, MA USA

Rylance, J:
 WHO, Geneva, Switzerland

Cheung, M:
 Sunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Toronto, ON, Canada

Agoritsas, T:
 McMaster Univ, Dept Hlth Res Methods Evidence & Impact, Hamilton, ON, Canada

 Geneva Univ Hosp, Dept Med, Div Gen Internal Med, Geneva, Switzerland

 MAGIC Evidence Ecosyst Fdn, Oslo, Norway

Kunkle, R:
 Amer Soc Hematol, Washington, DC USA

Murad, MH:
 Mayo Clin, Evidence Based Practice Ctr, Rochester, MN USA

Guyatt, G:
 McMaster Univ, Dept Hlth Res Methods Evidence & Impact, Hamilton, ON, Canada

 MAGIC Evidence Ecosyst Fdn, Oslo, Norway

 McMaster Univ, Dept Med, Hamilton, ON, Canada
ISSN: 20446055





BMJ Open
Editorial
BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, BRITISH MED ASSOC HOUSE, TAVISTOCK SQUARE, LONDON WC1H 9JR, ENGLAND, Reino Unido
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 15 Número: 11
Páginas:
WOS Id: 001613055600001
ID de PubMed: 41213689
imagen Green Submitted, gold

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