Developing HIV/AIDS Treatment Guidelines (UNAIDS, 1999, 43 p.): Part 2: Developing valid HIV/AIDS guidelines: Steps in developing HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines: 9. Drafting guidelines

Developing HIV/AIDS Treatment Guidelines (UNAIDS, 1999, 43 p.)

Part 2: Developing valid HIV/AIDS guidelines

Steps in developing HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines

		1. Target groups and type of guideline
		2. Stakeholder mapping exercise
		3. Setting up a guideline development committee
		4. Role of the committee members
		5. Guideline scope
		6. Identifying and applying scientific evidence
		7. Methods of establishing consensus
		8. Deriving recommendations
		9. Drafting guidelines
		10. Involving external reviewers
		11. Disseminating and implementing guidelines
		12. Workplan for guideline development
		13. Budgeting for guideline development
		14. Public policy implications of HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines

9. Drafting guidelines

The purpose of the HIV/AIDS guidelines is to give clear recommendations to physicians about the treatment and management of patients with HIV/AIDS. As such, it is important to consider the way the actual document will be structured and written. The clinical guideline should include the following:

· an executive summary;
· a summary of the development process;
· a summary of literature review with grading of the evidence;
· specific recommendations graded according to the evidence (this forms the major part of the guideline document i.e. what to do and how to administer treatments) and may appear in the form of statements, algorithms or diagrams.

The desirable attributes to be emphasized in a guideline are: its validity, reliability (reproducibility of recommendations), clinical applicability and flexibility. The patient population and the clinical problems likely to be encountered should be described in clear and explicit terms. Options for the clinician if the recommended course of action is not available should also be included. The recommendations given should be reproducible in any context without producing a significant difference in outcome. A description of the development process should be given including some mention of its multidisciplinary nature for the benefit of the user. Those using it can thus accurately assess the information. Indication of a review date for the guideline document will promote assessment of information that is changing rapidly or is uncertain.