Electronic Library for Guideline Developers

[Electronic Library for Guideline Developers]

There are three stages to evidence identification and retrieval:

The technical team set out a series of specific clinical questions (Appendix A) that covered the issues identified in the project scope. The CRG met to discuss, refine and approve these questions as suitable for identifying appropriate evidence within the published literature.
The information scientist developed a search strategy for each question to identify the available evidence. Identified titles and abstracts were reviewed for relevance to the agreed clinical questions and full papers obtained as appropriate. Full papers were assessed for inclusion according to predefined criteria (Appendix B).
The full papers were critically appraised and the pertinent data entered into evidence tables that were then reviewed and analysed by the GDG as the basis upon which to formulate recommendations. Limited details of the searches with regard to databases and constraints applied can be found in Appendix B.

Grey literature was searched for using the System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE). No formal contact was made with authors of identified studies. Additional contemporary articles were identified by the GDG on an ad hoc basis. Stakeholder evidence identified via a process established by NICE was incorporated where appropriate, and was assessed for inclusion by the same criteria as evidence provided by the electronic searches. Searches were re-run at the end of the guideline development process, thus including evidence published up to the end of September 2002. Studies recommended by stakeholders or GDG members that were published after this date were not considered for inclusion. This time-point should be the starting point for searching for new evidence for future updates to this guideline.

If you have any problems in using this resource please contact sign@rcpe.ac.uk
For further information about the AGREE Collaboration contact f.cluzeau@sghms.ac.uk

Last modified 27/4/04