One of the most common challenges to developing rigorous and high-quality guidelines is the inclusion of the patient and public perspective into the formulation of recommendations. In fact, in a recently published needs assessment of guideline developers worldwide, 81.5% answered with a 5 or greater on a 7-point Likert scale that the incorporation of the patient voice was a relevant need for their organization.
Now, the Guidelines International Network (G-I-N) has launched a large-scale toolkit aimed to address commonly experienced issues related to patient and public involvement. The result of a combination of international experiences and best practice examples, the toolkit is a one-stop shop spanning the systematic review and guideline development process, from conducting targeted consultation with the public to recruiting and supporting patient panel members to communicating recommendations to the public at-large. As a "living resource," the toolkit will continue to expand and evolve as further information and experience is cultivated.
You can find the freely available toolkit here.
