Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2017 Sep 14;1(4):97-105.
doi: 10.1002/bjs5.17. eCollection 2017 Aug.

Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines in kidney transplantation

K J M O'Donoghue  1 , R D Reed  2 , S R Knight  1   3 , J M O'Callaghan  1   3 , A A Ayaz-Shah  1 , S Hassan  4 , P J Morris  1   3 , L H M Pengel  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines in kidney transplantation

K J M O'Donoghue et al. BJS Open. .

Abstract

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are widely used to inform the development of protocols for clinical management. Previous work has demonstrated that the quality of CPGs varies widely. This systematic review aimed to determine the quality of CPGs in kidney transplantation in the UK.

Methods: CPGs in kidney transplantation published between 2010 and 2017 were identified through searches of MEDLINE, NHS NICE Evidence, and websites of relevant UK societies. Using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool, three appraisers rated the quality of CPGs across six domains, the overall quality of each CPG, and whether it should be recommended for future use. Domain scores were calculated, and inter-rater reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was reported.

Results: Thirteen CPGs met the inclusion criteria. The domain 'clarity of presentation' scored highest, followed closely by 'scope and purpose'. The poorest scoring domains were 'applicability' and 'editorial independence'. Editorial independence also had the widest range of scores. Of the 13 CPGs, one was not recommended for future use, seven were recommended for use with modifications, and five for future use with no need for modification. Mean overall CPG quality was 5 (range 3-6) of a maximum score of 7, and mean inter-rater reliability was substantial with an ICC of 0·71.

Conclusion: UK CPGs scored satisfactorily, although with wide variation in how well each domain scored both within and across CPGs. The quality of UK CPGs can still be improved.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Sabharwal S, Patel NK, Gauher S, Holloway I, Athanasiou T. High methodologic quality but poor applicability: assessment of the AAOS guidelines using the AGREE II instrument. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2014; 472: 1982–1988. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Solà I, Carrasco JM, Díaz Del Campo P, Gracia J, Orrego C, Martínez F et al Attitudes and perceptions about clinical guidelines: a qualitative study with Spanish physicians. PLoS One 2014; 9: e86065. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Acuña‐Izcaray A, Sánchez‐Angarita E, Plaza V, Rodrigo G, Montes de Oca M, Gich I et al Quality assessment of asthma clinical practice guidelines: a systematic appraisal. Chest 2013; 144: 390–397. - PubMed
    1. Tong A, Chapman JR, Wong G, de Bruijn J, Craig JC. Screening and follow‐up of living kidney donors: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. Transplantation 2011; 92: 962–972. - PubMed
    1. Acuna SA, Huang JW, Scott AL, Micic S, Daly C, Brezden‐Masley C et al Cancer screening recommendations for solid organ transplant recipients: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. Am J Transplant 2017; 17: 103–114. - PubMed