Clinical Practice Guidelines in an Era of Accountability, Saudi Arabia: A Call for Action

Overview

Journal J Epidemiol Glob Health

Publisher Springer

Date 2023 Jul 14

PMID 37450240

Authors

Hoda M Abdellatif

Amani Al-Muallem

Afaf Saleh Almansoof

Sami A AlRohaily

Abdullah Alzahrani

Hussah AlGhodaier

Mohammad Saeedi

Nahar Alazemi

Imad Hassan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) development and implementation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are suboptimal. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 envisages a transformational change to achieve an effective, integrated, value-based ecosystem focused on patient health.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a CPG appraisal tool that will support the realization of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 through the development of high-quality and highly implementable CPGs. To maximize its impact, all vital healthcare paradigms, such as systems thinking, value-based healthcare, and information technology, will robustly be incorporated in the tool.

Methods: The Saudi Health Council through its National Center of Evidence-Based Medicine (NCEBM) embarked on a program to develop this appraisal tool. A taskforce of experts was selected based on their experience in evidence-based practice and training. The task force, through a methodology of extensive literature review, deliberation, outside experts' feedback, and Delphi and consensus voting, developed a prototype appraisal tool that was named the Holistic Appraisal Tool for CPGs (HAT-CPG).

Results: The HAT-CPG was developed comprising three sections: an initial basic information section, an internal validity section, and an external validity section with a total of 13 section items and 73 reporting elements.

Conclusion: It is envisaged that the Holistic Appraisal Tool will support CPG developers and users in Saudi Arabia in realizing the objectives for which it was developed.

Citing Articles

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Crisera V, AlMubarak A, Saeedi M, Memish Z J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2025; 19(6):1202-1211.

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Quality appraisal of clinical practice guidelines addressing massage interventions using the AGREE II instrument.

Fan M, Liu A, Lu T, Zhou X, Tian C, Liu B Syst Rev. 2024; 13(1):83.

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