13 - Review prior to Publication
The guideline has been externally reviewed by experts prior to its publication.
User’s Manual Description:
A guideline should be reviewed externally before it is published. Reviewers should not have been involved in the guideline development group. Reviewers should include experts in the clinical area as well as some methodological experts. Target population (patients, public) representatives may also be included. A description of the methodology used to conduct the external review should be presented, which may include a list of the reviewers and their affiliation.
Where to Look:
Examine the paragraphs/chapters describing the guideline development process and the acknowledgement section. Examples of commonly labeled sections or chapters in a guideline where this information can be found include: methods, results, interpretation, and acknowledgements.
How to Rate:
Item content includes the following CRITERIA:
- purpose and intent of the external review (e.g., to improve quality, gather feedback on draft recommendations, assess applicability and feasibility, disseminate evidence)
- methods taken to undertake the external review (e.g., rating scale, open-ended questions)
- description of the external reviewers (e.g., number, type of reviewers, affiliations)
- outcomes/information gathered from the external review (e.g., summary of key findings)
- description of how the information gathered was used to inform the guideline development process and/or formation of the recommendations (e.g., guideline panel considered results of review in forming final recommendations)
Additional CONSIDERATIONS:
- Is the item well written? Are the descriptions clear and concise?
- Is the item content easy to find in the guideline?
- Are the external reviewers relevant and appropriate to the scope of the guideline? Was there a rationale given for choosing the included reviewers?
- How was information from the external review used by the guideline development group?
