GPAC: Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee

Guideline and Protocol Development Process

Principles

The Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee (GPAC) adheres to the following principles:

• To encourage appropriate responses to common medical situations
• To recommend actions that are sufficient and efficient, neither excessive nor deficient
• To permit exceptions when justified by clinical circumstances

Guidelines and protocols are designed to apply to common conditions and to provide flexibility for physician judgement in uncommon situations. They aim to improve patient care by developing recommendations for clinical practice in B.C.

Selection Criteria

• high volume or high cost
• high variability in practice patterns
• opportunity for improvement in practice
• support and interest of physicians

Process

GPAC's Subcommittees and Working Groups develop guidelines through an iterative process that involves:

• Topic choice (common condition, situation can be improved by a guideline, doctors interested) and scope definition
• Literature search (previous guidelines, critical literature reviews, randomized controlled trials)
• Consultation with experts
• Guideline drafts
• External review (random sample of general practitioners, random sample of relevant specialists, experts in the field, professional organizations)
• Consultation with experts
• Approvals (from B.C. Medical Association, Medical Services Commission)
• Three to five year planned review (may occur earlier when prompted by new information)
• Guideline evaluation

Review

All guidelines and protocols are scheduled for review in the light of recent scientific literature three to five years after their initial distribution. They are reviewed sooner if warranted by new information.

Disclaimer

The Clinical Practice Guidelines (the "Guidelines") have been developed by the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee on behalf of the Medical Services Commission. The Guidelines are intended to give an understanding of a clinical problem, and outline one or more preferred approaches to the investigation and management of the problem. The Guidelines are not intended as a substitute for the advice or professional judgment of a health care professional, nor are they intended to be the only approach to the management of clinical problems.

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