Addressing challenges when applying GRADE to public health guidelines: a scoping review protocol and pilot analysis

Kantorová, L. et al. (2022) Addressing challenges when applying GRADE to public health guidelines: a scoping review protocol and pilot analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 992. (doi: 10.3390/ijerph19020992) (PMID:35055814) (PMCID:PMC8775462)

Abstract

This is a protocol for a scoping review that aims to determine how guideline authors using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach have addressed previously identified challenges related to public health. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews will be followed. We will search and screen titles of guidelines for all languages published in 2013−2021 in: the GIN library, BIGG database, Epistemonikos GRADE guidelines repository, GRADEpro Database, MAGICapp, NICE and WHO websites. Two reviewers will independently screen full texts of the documents identified. The following information will be extracted: methods used for identifying different stakeholders and incorporating their perspectives; methods for identification and prioritization of non-health outcomes; methods for determining thresholds for decision-making; methods for incorporating and grading evidence from non-randomized studies; methods for addressing concerns with conditional recommendations in public health; methods for reaching consensus; additional methodological concerns; and any modifications made to GRADE. A combination of directed content analysis and descriptive statistics will be used for data analysis, and the findings presented narratively in a tabular and graphical form. In this protocol, we present the pilot results from 13 identified eligible guidelines issued between January and August 2021. We will publish the full review results when they become available.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by Masaryk University, grant number MUNI/IGA/1068/2020- CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/19_073/0016943 (L.K.).
• Keywords: GRADE, guidelines, public health, methodology, challenges, scoping review protocol.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Katikireddi, Professor Vittal

Creator Roles

Katikireddi, S. V.: Conceptualization, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Kantorová, L., Friessová, T., Slezáková, S., Langaufová, A., Kantor, J., Munn, Z., Barker, T. H., Katikireddi, S. V., Mustafa, R. A., Žuljević, M. F., Lukežić, M., Klugarová, J., Riad, A., Vrbová, T., Pokorná, A., Búřilová, P., Búřil, J., Kirkovski, A., Ćaćić, N., Delač, L., Tokalić, R., Poklepović Peričić, T., and Klugar, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1661-7827
• ISSN (Online): 1660-4601
• Published Online: 16 January 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(2): 992
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License