The American Cancer Society (ACS) has revised its guideline development process. The new methods align with new principles from the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) by:
- Creating 1 generalist group for writing the guidelines
- Authorizing systematic evidence reviews
- Clearly outlining the benefits, limitations, and harms associated with cancer screening tests
With these changes, the ACS hopes to achieve greater transparency, consistency, and rigor in creating cancer screening guidance.
The new process includes transparency. Activities and timelines will be posted publicly on the American Cancer Society Web site. To maintain the new IOM standards, an independent writing group will receive appropriate subspecialty expertise yet be protected from professional conflicts of interest.
The process will include evidence reviews that will use methods consistent with IOM standards. A guidelines group will evaluate the necessity of the review recommendations.
To conclude the new process, a formal review will allow for experts and professional organizations to comment on draft guidelines.
Finally, the cancer screening guideline process will periodically be reviewed by an independent advisory group. Then, at least every 5 years, there will also be a formal review and rewriting of every ACS cancer screening guideline.
“This new process should ensure that ACS will remain the national leader in creating and communicating trustworthy information to guide clinical practice, personal choices, and public policy about cancer screening,” said Tim Byers, MD, MPH, of the Colorado School of Public Health. Dr Byers headed the Guidelines Process Workgroup and co-authored the new report.
Source: American Cancer Society.