Health and Science Policy anzzzzd Evidence-Based Medicine
Writing and Formatting Instructions
Single Chapter or Article-Length Guidelines
Examples of single chapter guidelines can be found at Current ACCP Guidelines. Some of these include the guidelines on pulmonary rehabilitation and aerosol therapy. Single chapter guidelines may be published in CHEST or as a supplement to CHEST depending on their length. It is important that they follow the Instructions to Authors of CHEST.
The following are the general components of a single chapter guideline:
1. Guideline Title
All ACCP practice guidelines must use the following title format:
"(Topic Name): ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline"
Only evidence-based guidelines can be titled in this way. Consensus statements and policy papers cannot use the phrase "Clinical Practice Guideline" or words "guideline" or "recommendation."
2. Panel List
This page lists the authors of the guideline, their institutions, city, state, and country if other than US, along with any conflict of interest disclosures, and the ACCP disclaimer for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. This includes consultants to the panel, representatives from other associations who participated in the guideline development, and reviewers of the interim manuscripts. Organizations that have endorsed the guidelines should be prominently listed here.
3. Abstract/Key Words/Abbreviations
Each article should be preceded by a structured abstract following CHEST requirements. The suggested structure is Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions
Following the abstract, authors should provide up to 10 key words that reflect the content of the paper.
Finally, all abbreviations, except the most commonly used abbreviations, should be listed in alphabetical order and defined.
4. Summary of recommendations
A verbatim summary of recommendations should be listed exactly as they appear in the text. Grading is included.
5. Introduction
This section provides historical background on the topic, the epidemiology, and overall justification of the importance of the topic.
6. Methods and Grading
This important section should include the following:
- Expert panel composition, how it was chosen, and panel process
- The process for reviewing conflicts of interest
- Listing of any outside support and firewalls for independence
- Scope of work including key research questions and topics covered in the document
- In depth explanation of how the literature was conducted including the following:
- How the searches were conducted based on key questions
- Which databases were searched
- Inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Results of the literature search (eg, numbers of abstracts reviewed, number of articles accepted)
- Rating quality of the evidence
- ACCP Grading System
- Incorporation of resource allocation, if applicable
- Incorporation of patient values and preferences
- Document review process
7. Discussion/Results/Recommendations
Discussions of the evidence should be organized logically such that, for each research question, a review of the data builds to logical conclusions (recommendations) based on the evidence. Recommendations should be stated clearly and concisely with the bolded statement followed by the grade of evidence. Appropriate evidence and summary tables should also be included either in the publication or online only.
8. Gaps in Research/Areas for Future Research
The purpose of this section is to highlight areas where there are little or no data or where the quality of available studies is low.
9. Conclusions
The conclusion is a short summary of the major points made in the guideline; however, recommendations should not be repeated here.
10. Acknowledgments
Others who assisted in the guideline development but were not authors could be mentioned here.
11. References
References must be in CHEST style. EndNote software is recommended for managing citations.
12. Appendices/Evidence Tables
Any other appendices and evidence tables not included of the body of the guideline should be attached last. These may be published online only.
An Executive Summary must accompany the guideline. This short document provides a general overview of the guideline and a list of the recommendations. The Executive Summary should be no longer than five pages for a single chapter guideline.
Forms
Panel members must complete and return a final Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form and Author Agreement Form before the guideline is submitted to CHEST.
Multiple Chapter Guidelines
A multiple chapter format is used when there are several major subtopics, each of which requires its own content chapter. Each chapter should be written so that it can stand alone. Chapter editors can be appointed by the Guideline Chair(s) to lead the development of each chapter. Examples include Antithrombotics and Lung Cancer, refer to Current ACCP Guidelines.
1. Guideline Title
All ACCP practice guidelines must use the following title format:
"(Topic Name): ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline"
Only evidence-based guidelines can be titled in this way. Consensus statements and policy papers cannot use the phrase "Clinical Practice Guideline" or words "guideline" or "recommendation."
2. Table of Contents
2a. ACCP disclaimer for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
2b. List of organizations that have endorsed the guidelines
3. Executive Summary
This short document provides a general overview of the guideline and a summary of the major recommendations. Only strictly relevant references should be included. The Executive Summary should be no longer than five pages.
4. Panel List
This page lists the authors of the guideline, their institutions, city, state, and country if other than US, along with any conflict of interest disclosures, and the ACCP disclaimer for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. This includes consultants to the panel, representatives from other associations who participated in the guideline development, and reviewers of the interim manuscripts. Organizations that have endorsed the guidelines should be prominently listed here.
5. Summary of recommendations
A verbatim summary of recommendations should be listed exactly as they appear in the text. Grading is included.
6. Introduction Chapter
This chapter provides historical background on the topic, the epidemiology, and overall justification of the importance of the topic.
7. Methods and Grading Chapter
This important section should include the following:
- Expert panel composition, how it was chosen, and panel process
- The process for reviewing conflicts of interest
- Listing of any outside support and firewalls for independence
- Scope of work including key research questions and topics covered in the document
- In depth explanation of how the literature was conducted including the following:
- How the searches were conducted based on key questions
- Which databases were searched
- Inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Results of the literature search (eg, numbers of abstracts reviewed, number of articles accepted)
- Rating quality of the evidence
- ACCP Grading System
- Incorporation of resource allocation, if applicable
- Incorporation of patient values and preferences
- Document review process
8. Content Chapters
Content chapters should be written such that they could serve as stand-alone documents. Chapters should be developed around the predefined research questions offering review of the data and building to the recommendations. Content chapters should include:
- Chapter Title, ending in "ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline"
- Abstract
Each chapter should include a structured abstract following CHEST requirements. The suggested structure is Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions
- Key Words
Up to 10 key words that reflect the content of the paper should be listed here
- Abbreviations
All abbreviations, except the most commonly used abbreviations, should be listed in alphabetical order and defined.
- Summary of recommendations
A verbatim summary of recommendations should be listed exactly as they appear in the text. Grading is included.
- Introduction
- Discussion/Results/Recommendations
- Gaps in Research/Areas for Future Research
- Conclusions
- References
References must be in CHEST style. EndNote software is recommended for managing citations.
- Appendices/Evidence
Tables
Any other appendices and evidence tables not included of the body of the guideline should be attached last. These may be published online only.
9. Conclusion Chapter
Final set of forms
Panel members must complete and return a final Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form and Author Agreement Form before the guideline is submitted to CHEST. |
