Publikation

The European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Methodology: A Critical Evaluation

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 14.07.2008

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Aus G, Plass K, Parsons K, Mitropoulos D, Loch T, Lobel B, Irani J, Hanûs T, Chapple C, Schmid H. The European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Methodology: A Critical Evaluation. European urology 2008
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
European urology 2008
Veröffentlichungsdatum
14.07.2008
eISSN (Online)
1873-7560
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

OBJECTIVES: Guidelines can be produced and written in numerous ways. The aim of the present article is to describe and evaluate the method currently used to produce the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The methodology is described in detail, compared to other urologic guidelines by members of the EAU Guidelines Office Board. MEASUREMENTS: The new methodology is evaluated by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The currently used methodology is adapted to the aims and objectives as established by the EAU for their guidelines; wide coverage (essentially all fields of urology) and useful to urologists all over Europe. The frequent updates are easily accessible in a printed and electronic format. The AGREE instrument supports these strong points, but also identifies potentially weak points, such as no patient involvement, no formal validation of the guidelines texts prior to publication, and lack of discussion of organisational barriers and cost implications. CONCLUSION: The currently used methodology for the production of EAU guidelines fulfils the association's main objectives related to their guidelines, but the texts will benefit from the inclusion of country-specific cost and organisational data. For the practising clinician, these guidelines will help to take science into clinical practice.