Colorectal cancer guidelines seldom include the patient perspective.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe how colorectal practice guidelines (PGs) incorporate the patient perspective. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We searched in the Guidelines International Network library, MEDLINE, National Guideline Clearinghouse, NHS Evidence database, and TRIP database. Two authors independently selected the PGs. We considered recommendations rated or worded as weak or conditional or suggesting multiple options, as potentially preference sensitive. Two authors independently evaluated if, in potentially sensitive recommendations, the patient perspective was incorporated. RESULTS: We included 28 PGs that contained 588 recommendations, being 256 potentially preference sensitive. Ten PGs (36%) included patients in the development process, and 12 (43%) provided information about patients' perspectives. Nine PGs (32%) included recommendations in which the patient perspective was explicitly considered, and 13 (46.4%) that recommended a discussion with the patient. From a total of 588 recommendations, 9.7% (25/256) of potentially preference-sensitive recommendations considered the patient perspective. The inclusion of patients in the development process was associated with a more frequent incorporation of the patient perspective in potentially preference sensitive recommendations (70% vs. 0%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Guideline users should be aware that the incorporation of the patient perspective in colorectal cancer PGs is suboptimal. Guideline developers should make efforts to incorporate the patient perspective, especially in preference-sensitive recommendations.

Efficiency of pragmatic search strategies to update clinical guidelines recommendations.

BACKGROUND: A major challenge in updating clinical guidelines is to efficiently identify new, relevant evidence. We evaluated the efficiency and feasibility of two new approaches: the development of restrictive search strategies using PubMed Clinical Queries for MEDLINE and the use of the PLUS (McMaster Premium Literature Service) database. METHODS: We evaluated a random sample of recommendations from a national guideline development program and identified the references that would potentially trigger an update (key references) using an exhaustive approach. We designed restrictive search strategies using the minimum number of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and text words required from the original exhaustive search strategies and applying broad and narrow filters. We developed PLUS search strategies, matching Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) terms with guideline topics. We compared the number of key references retrieved by these approaches with those retrieved by the exhaustive approach. RESULTS: The restrictive approach retrieved 68.1 % fewer references than the exhaustive approach (12,486 versus 39,136), and identified 89.9 % (62/69) of key references and 88 % (22/25) of recommendation updates. The use of PLUS retrieved 88.5 % fewer references than the exhaustive approach (4,486 versus 39,136) and identified substantially fewer key references (18/69, 26.1 %) and fewer recommendation updates (10/25, 40 %). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed restrictive approach is a highly efficient and feasible method to identify new evidence that triggers a recommendation update. Searching only in the PLUS database proved to be a suboptimal approach and suggests the need for topic-specific tailoring.

Evolution of the determinants of chronic liver disease in Quebec.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are a worldwide problem. Morbidity and mortality due to CLDs could be avoided or reduced by targeting the main risk factors, including obesity and alcohol use. METHODS: To describe the evolution of the key determinants of CLDs in Quebec, we studied the trends in obesity, alcohol use, viral hepatitis B and C, CLD mortality and hospitalization rates, and the liver cancer incidence rate between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 2009. RESULTS: We observed an increase in the obesity indicators among young men and in alcohol use among adolescent girls and middle-aged women. The overall hepatitis B and C incidence and CLD mortality rates are falling. However, liver cancer and mortality rates, especially among men and the elderly, are on the rise. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of targeted public health interventions and of maintaining or improving access to care for CLDs.

TITLE: Évolution des déterminants des maladies chroniques du foie au Québec. INTRODUCTION: Les maladies chroniques du foie (MCF) constituent un problème mondial. La morbidité et la mortalité des MCF pourraient être évitées ou atténuées en agissant sur leurs principaux facteurs de risque, notamment l'obésité et la consommation d'alcool. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Afin de décrire l'évolution des principaux déterminants des MCF au Québec, nous avons étudié les tendances de l'obésité, de la consommation d'alcool, des hépatites virales B et C, de la mortalité et du taux d'hospitalisation des MCF ainsi que du taux d'incidence du cancer du foie entre le 1er janvier 1981 et le 31 décembre 2009. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons observé une augmentation des indicateurs de l'obésité chez les jeunes hommes et de la consommation d'alcool chez les adolescentes et chez les femmes d'âge moyen. Les taux d'incidence globale des hépatites B et C et de la mortalité par MCF sont en diminution. Cependant, les taux d'incidence du cancer du foie et de sa mortalité, surtout chez les hommes et les personnes âgées, sont à la hausse. CONCLUSION: Ces résultats soulignent l'importance des interventions de santé publique ciblées ainsi que le maintien ou l'amélioration de l'accès aux soins pour les MCF.