Table 2.

NIPCM development process

Stage	Process
Development of research questions	•Research questions are drafted by the scientists; •SNIC and NCIC review and finalise the research questions; •The questions are sent for consultation with the NIPC consensus and steering groups; •Comments are collated and research questions are finalised by the scientist(s), SNIC and NCIC.
Developing and performing searches	•Search strategies drafted by scientist(s) using the PICO framework; •Library services check and optimise (if necessary) the final search strategy for multiple databases; •Searches carried out and results exported into endnote and an excel database.
Screening and selection of articles	•1st screen of title and abstract against inclusion/exclusion criteria; •Article retrieval; •2nd screen of retrieved full texts; •All decision recorded in excel database.
Evidence appraisal and grading	•Included articles are critically appraised, graded and summarised in evidence tables.
Development of recommendations	•Scientist(s) synthesise draft recommendations based on the evidence identified; •SNIC and NCIC review and approve the draft recommendations.
Write-up of literature review	•A literature review summarising the identified evidence and recommendations is drafted by the scientist(s) •SNIC and NCIC approve the draft for consultation
Consultation	•A 4–6 week consultation with NIPC steering and consensus groups plus any topic experts is conducted •Comments returned are collated by an administrator •Scientist(s), SNIC and NICIC review the comments and agree/reject any changes •A record is made of all decisions on consultation comments for circulation to the consultation groups
Final sign-off, publication and communication	•A final draft with any required changes is produced by the scientist(s) for final sign-off by the NCIC; •A final version is formatted and published on the NIPCM website by the information officer; •Any changes to the NIPCM that are required are made by the information to coincide with publication; •Publication and any changes to practice is communicated to stakeholders using a weekly email digest and highlighted on the NIPCM website.