Clinical practice guidelines portal
The Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal has been developed to assist clinicians and policy-makers access Australian evidence-based clinical practice guidelines through a single entry point. All guidelines have been assessed against four selection criteria, modified from those used by the United States National Guidelines Clearinghouse, and adapted to the Australian context.
After a successful launch in February 2010, use of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal is gaining momentum. Feedback received to date indicates that it is an important clinical resource that can be easily and efficiently accessed.
The Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal can be accessed at: www.clinicalguidelines.gov.au.
Organisations who have developed an Australian clinical practice guideline and would like it considered for inclusion on the portal should send a copy for assessment to the Portal Administrator at: clinicalguidelines@nhmrc.gov.au.
Clinical practice guidelines register
The Guidelines in Development Register contains information about clinical practice guidelines in development in Australia. Linked to the portal, it has been designed to help reduce duplication of guidelines and to allow guideline developers to collaborate with other developers in common areas of interest. This will further assist policy makers and guideline funders to better coordinate guideline development activities in Australia.
Organisations currently planning, developing or revising guidelines for national, state or local use are encouraged to submit their details online at: www.clinicalguidelines.gov.au/in-development
All guideline developers intending to seek NHMRC approval must list their guideline in development on the guidelines in development register at least eight months prior to public consultation.
Australian Guideline Developers Network
The Australian Guideline Developers Network was established by the NHMRC in 2010 to support a national approach to improve the quality of clinical practice guidelines in Australia. The Network is a community where guideline developers can share their knowledge and experience, work collaboratively and identify current and emerging trends in guideline development.
Several national workshops have been held to discuss priority issues identified by guideline developers. Please refer to the workshop proceedings below for more information. Future forums will address other topics of interest to Network members such as managing conflict of interest.
NHMRC invites all members of the Australian clinical practice guideline development community to become involved in the Network. This includes people currently working in guideline development or research, as well as people planning to develop a guideline for the first time, members of commissioning or endorsing agencies, methodologists, technical writers and consumers. If you are interested in becoming a member, please complete the expression of interest and survey form below and email to: clinicalguidelines@nhmrc.gov.au
- NHMRC Guideline Developers Network - Fact Sheet (March 2012) (PDF, 856KB)
- Australian Guideline Developers Network expression of interest form and survey (PDF, 110KB)
- June 2010 Guideline Developers Network Workshop Proceedings (PDF, 374KB)
- November 2010 Guideline Developers Network Workshop Proceedings (PDF, 492KB)
- June 2011 Guideline Developers Network Workshop Proceedings (PDF 679KB)
- December 2011 Guideline Developers Network Workshop Proceedings (report pending)
National Clinical Guidelines Audit
NHMRC has recently published a national study of clinical practice guidelines (Medical Journal of Australia 2010; 192 (9): 490-494). This study examines the current scope and quality of clinical practice guidelines in Australia, and provides a useful platform to understand current gaps and areas for improvement in quality guidelines development.
In particular this study has highlighted that, to be effective, guidelines need to:
- be based on the best available evidence
- have methodology that is transparent
- have clearly identified, priority areas and recommendations
- have current, active implementation plans
- be adequately disseminated to end users.
The abstract of this paper can be obtained at: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/192_09_030510/buc11126_fm.html.