Table 4.
Comparison of rapid guidelines methods used by WHO, NICE and CDC
| Organisation | WHO | NICE | CDC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source document (date) | Handbook for Guideline Development (2014) | Process and Methods Guide: The Guidelines Manual (2012) | Guidelines and Recommendations: A CDC Primer (2012) |
| Nomenclature | Rapid advice guidelines | Short clinical guidelines | Interim guidance |
| Definition | Evidence-informed guidelines produced within 1–3 months providing global leadership and timely guidance in response to emergencies or to an urgent need | Guidelines that address only part of a care pathway, allowing rapid development of guidance on aspects of care for which the NHS requires urgent advice | Interim guidance is developed in response to emergencies or to rapid increases in cases of a disease or condition |
| Timeframe (rapid guidelines) | 1–3 months | 11–13 months | Not reported |
| Timeframe (standard guidelines) | 6 months to 2 years | 18–24 months | Not reported |
| Shortcuts identified in the methods | Limiting the scope of the review, the outcomes, add more resources to have more reviewers working in parallel; streamlining the process If necessary, use methods for timely delivery of evidence synthesis |
Focused scope: 3–6 review questions; topics for health economic analysis are identified during the scoping phase; shorter period for consultation process: 4 weeks | Objective documents, usually with less than three pages, not describing methodological issues Might not need to be vetted internally |