[Graphic synopsis of implementation of German guideline clearing reports in national disease management guidelines]. / Grafische Synoptierung der Umsetzung von Leitlinien-Clearingberichten in Nationale VersorgungsLeitlinien.

BACKGROUND: While methods for the production of guidelines (evidence analysis, assessment, adaptation) have been continually refined throughout the past years, there is a lack of instruments for the production of easily understandable synopses. METHODS: Definition of a methodological approach to encompass synopses by Spidernet diagrams. RESULTS: Tables of synopses can be generated with distinct information to bring down the main results in one Spidernet diagram. This is possible for both the entire synopsis and parts of it. DISCUSSION: Guideline comparisons require detailed analyses on the one hand and easily understandable presentations of their results on the other. CONCLUSION: Guideline synopses can be substantially supported by graphic presentation of the results of synopsis. Graphic synopsis is also helpful in other cases; it may be used, for example, to summarise HTA reports, systematic reviews or guidelines.

[Method report 2007 of the Programme for National Disease Management Guidelines--background and content]. / Der Methodenreport 2007 des Nationalen Programms für VersorgungsLeitlinien - Hintergrund und Inhalt.

The Programme for National Disease Management Guidelines (German DM-CPG Programme) was established in 2002 by the German Medical Association (umbrella organisation of the German Chambers of Physicians) and joined by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF)--umbrella organisation of more than 150 professional societies--and by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (NASHIP) in 2003. The programme provides a conceptual basis for disease management, focussing on high priority healthcare topics and aiming at the implementation of best practice recommendations for prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and chronic care. It is organised by the German Agency for Quality in Medicine, a founding member of the Guidelines International Network G-I-N. The main objective of the German DM-CPG Programme is to establish consensus among the medical professions on evidence-based key recommendations covering all sectors of healthcare provision and facilitating the coordination of care for the individual patient through time and across interfaces. Within the last year DM-CPGs have been published for asthma, COPD, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. In addition, experts from national patient self-help groups have been developing patient guidance based upon the recommendations for healthcare providers. The article describes background, methods and tools of the DM-CPG programme using the DM-CPG Method Report 2007.

[From evidence to recommendation influence of consensus processes on grades of recommendation-'against consensus'?]. / Von der Evidenz zur Empfehlung Einfluss von Konsensprozessen auf Empfeh- lungsgrade-"kontra Konsens"?

Guidelines are not only sources of condensed evidence. They also contain graded recommendations that have been agreed upon in consensus procedures. Frequently there are discrepancies between the results of the critical appraisal of the evidence expressed in levels of evidence and the strength of the resulting recommendations. Unfortunately, the reasons for these discrepancies remain largely obscure and guideline users are therefore unable to comprehend this so-called 'upgrading' or 'downgrading', respectively. A consensus process consisting of several stages and a more detailed documentation could be a possible remedy. The present contribution is based on a lecture held at the 7th Annual Meeting of the DNEbM (German Network for Evidence-based Medicine) in Bochum in March 2006.

[The German Program for Disease Management Guidelines Type 2 Diabetes - Diabetic Foot Guideline 2006. Short review]. / Die Nationale VersorgungsLeitlinie Typ-2-Diabetes - Fusskomplikationen. Ein zusammenfassender Bericht.

In Germany, the first national consensus between 14 medical scientific associations on evidence-based recommendations for prevention and therapy of foot problems in type 2 diabetes was reached in fall 2006. The recommendations' main sources are the NICE Guideline 2003 on foot problems in type 2 diabetes, as well as existing German guidelines and reviews of recent scientific evidence. The article gives an overview on authors, sources, and key recommendations of the German National Disease Management Guideline Type 2 Diabetes - Diabetic Foot 2006 (www.diabetes.versorgungsleitlinien.de).

[The German program for disease management guidelines: type 2 diabetes--diabetic retinopathy/maculopathy guideline 2006. Short review]. / Die Nationale VersorgungsLeitlinie Typ-2-Diabetes--Netzhautkomplikationen. Ein zusammenfassender Bericht.

In Germany, the first national consensus between six medical scientific associations on evidence-based recommendations for prevention and therapy of retinopathy/maculopathy in type 2 diabetes was reached in fall 2006. The recommendations' main sources are the NICE Retinopathy Guideline 2002, and existing German guidelines and reviews of recent scientific evidence. The article gives an overview on authors, sources, and key recommendations of the German National Disease Management Guideline Type 2 Diabetes-Retinopathy/Maculopathy 2006 (www.diabetes.versorgungsleitlinien.de).

[The German program for disease management guidelines. Background, methods, and development process]. / Nationale Versorgungsleitlinien von BAK, AWMF und KBV : Hintergrund, Methodik und Instrumente.

The Program for National Disease Management Guidelines (German DM-CPG Program) was established in 2002 by the German Medical Association (umbrella organization of the German Chambers of Physicians) and joined by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF; umbrella organization of more than 150 professional societies) and by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (NASHIP) in 2003. The program provides a conceptual basis for disease management, focusing on high-priority health-care topics and aiming at the implementation of best practice recommendations for prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and chronic care. It is organized by the German Agency for Quality in Medicine, a founding member of the Guidelines International Network (G-I-N). The main objective of the German DM-CPG Program is to establish consensus of the medical professions on evidence-based key recommendations covering all sectors of health-care provision and facilitating the coordination of care for the individual patient through time and across interfaces. Within the last year, DM-CPGs have been published for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease. In addition, experts from national patient self-help groups have been developing patient guidance based upon the recommendations for health-care providers. The article describes background, methods, and tools of the DM-CPG Program, and is the first of a publication series dealing with innovative recommendations and aspects of the program.

[Clinical practice guidelines in Germany, 1994 to 2004. From guideline methodology towards guideline implementation]. / Medizinische Leitlinien in Deutschland, 1994 bis 2004. Von der Leitlinienmethodik zur Leitlinienimplementierung.

The role of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) as a tool for continuous medical education (CME), and quality management in health care is now widely accepted in Germany. Since the 90ies, the physicians' professional associations as well as health care authorities and parliament have been introducing several incentives and regulations in order to promote the use of evidence based CPG. In the past German CPG agencies have been focussing their work on developing and optimising methodological CPG standards. Future CPG activities should address much more other key factors for the success of CPGs, such as medical relevance, practicability, effective dissemination, and implementation. The article describes the process of guideline adaptation by regional physician audit groups as a tool for CPG implementation.

[The German Guideline Clearinghouse on Breast Cancer: the need for frequent updating of breast cancer guidelines requires effective guideline updating procedures]. / Leitlinien-Clearingverfahren Mammakarzinom: Die Notwendigkeit einer häufigen Aktualisierung von Mammakarzinom-Leitlinien erfordert effektive Vorgehensweisen bei der Fortschreibung von Leitlinien.

In order to promote the quality of health care and guidelines in Germany the German Guideline Clearinghouse (Sponsors: German Medical Association, National Association of the Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, German Hospital Federation, Associations of the Sickness Funds and the Statutory Pension Insurance) was established at the Agency for Quality in Medicine (AQuMed) in 1999. The results of the 10th Guideline Clearing Project, the Guideline Clearing Report "Breast Cancer", were published in December 2003. In a systematic search using English/German language guideline databases and literature databases (Medline, Healthstar, Embase), 16 national guidelines were identified which were in accordance to the inclusion criteria (breast cancer treatment; German or English language; published after 1992; new guideline or genuine update (no adaptation); recommended for country-wide implementation). The methodological quality of these 16 guidelines was evaluated using the appraisal instrument of the German Guideline Clearinghouse, the checklist "Methodological Quality of Clinical Practice Guidelines". A peer review of the guidelines was performed by a multidisciplinary focus group of experts (intended guideline users from clinical and ambulatory settings as well as patients). This group consented comments and recommendations for actions of health care policy makers in Germany for a German breast cancer guideline based on examples from the appraised guidelines. None of the identified guidelines contained information about all of the 24 key topics that the focus group considered to be relevant for a German national guideline. The selected exemplary text extracts from the evaluated guidelines can be used as benchmarks and example sources for the development of a national German breast cancer guideline. From the beginning, patients should be involved in the development process within a multidisciplinary team. Due to the rapid emergence of new evidence, oncology guidelines need an effective procedure for updating in order to ensure that they are able to promote health care quality by giving current recommendations based on best available evidence. International networks such as the Guidelines International Network (G-I-N) will be helpful to collect and appraise the evidence for the national guideline development groups in an effective way.