The G-I-N Conference was organized by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) jointly with SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network). The theme of this year's conference was devoted to current issues in evidence-based medicine, including the challenges faced by clinical guideline developers in the digital age, as well as the role guidelines play in promoting and ensuring high-quality medical care. More than 490 delegates from 48 countries attended the conference.
Over the four days of the conference, four plenary sessions were held:
Plenary session 1. Clinical guidelines: is it worth dealing with them?
Issues regarding the significance and role of clinical guidelines in evidence-based medicine, current problems arising in the process of developing guidelines, and modern approaches to solving them were discussed. The process of data dissemination in the evidence ecosystem using integrated digital platforms was considered, which significantly reduces duplication of information and costs for the health care system and also increases work efficiency.
Plenary session 2. Focus on gaps: developing recommendations with alternative forms of evidence.
At the meeting, considerable attention was paid to the practical use of real-world evidence, taking into account the benefits, risks, and costs of medical products and services. Particular interest was aroused by a report on the use of formal consensus methodology, with an emphasis on assessing the evidence for using consensus in the development of clinical guidelines, and how changes in these approaches may affect recommendations and decision-making.
Plenary session 3. Beyond clinical guidelines: how does the patient make a choice?
The session focused on a patient-centered approach to the development of clinical guidelines, as users of medical services are more interested in a practical approach. Research results show that involving patients in the development of recommendations contributes to more effective work and the implementation of innovations, and increases trust between the patient and the clinician.
Plenary session 4. Clinical guidelines in practice – award for the best presentation of results.
At this plenary session, three separate speakers presented real-life examples of implementing clinical guidelines in their regions. After reviewing the problems and barriers each author had faced, delegates were able to take part in an interactive Q&A session followed by a vote for the best presentation.
In addition, parallel sessions addressed the involvement of alternative evidence in the development of recommendations, the link between quality indicators and the characteristics of clinical guidelines, the practical use of the GRADE system, and the applicability of randomized and non-randomized studies in systematic reviews of the effects of medical interventions.
Special mention should be made of the special session devoted to health technology assessment, namely: its place in the evidence ecosystem, the use of core outcome sets, and the reduction of duplication of evidence.
At the practical seminars, delegates had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and gain new knowledge in the following areas:
- “Launching a successful network to support methodologists and developers: sharing experience from evidence synthesis networks in the United Kingdom”
- “Creating a guideline that meets the highest standards: determining what you need to know and do”
- “Why we do what we do and how we can do it better: strengthening synergy between clinical guideline developers and HTA communities”
- “Reducing bias in guideline development – managing conflicts of interest”
- “How to turn your guideline into useful information for patients and the public”
The poster session was traditional, during which conference participants presented posters and exchanged experience on the development and implementation of clinical guidelines created on the principles of evidence-based medicine, as well as on overcoming the difficulties and barriers that arise in the process.
Rubtsova Ye.I. presented a poster at the conference on the topic: “Creation of single information space for health care providers in Ukraine” (Creation of a single information space for healthcare workers in Ukraine).
The meeting of the working group on low- and middle-income countries (G-I-N Low and Middle Income Countries Working Group) deserves special mention. The purpose of the working group's activities is to discuss the issue of promoting open access to evidence-based medicine data for developing countries, as well as the issue of exchanging experience between such countries in order to improve health care system outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. At the meeting of this working group, participants discussed existing problems and barriers to the development of clinical guidelines, further plans and prospects. The need for the participation of low- and middle-income countries in scientific research was emphasized, as was the dissemination of information on the specifics of the process of adapting and implementing clinical guidelines in the member countries of the group.
Thus, participation in the G-I-N 2018 conference contributes to learning about the experience of other countries in developing clinical guidelines based on evidence-based medicine, which serves as a basis for developing quality medical standards in the healthcare system, as well as further cooperation with international organizations.
