The SIGN guide to the AGREE guideline appraisal instrument

[SIGN Guide to AGREE]

7. The guideline should be piloted among end users

Before widespread implementation, guidelines should be pre-tested for further validation amongst the intended end users. SIGN considers that the pilot-testing phase is most appropriately carried out at a local level as part of the local implementation process, as testing the feasibility of implementation in one environment may not be applicable to another. As an early stimulus to this process, SIGN holds a national open meeting to discuss the draft recommendations of each guideline. This takes place whilst the guideline is still in development and gives the guideline development group the opportunity to present their preliminary conclusions and draft recommendations to a wider audience. This enables the guideline development group to obtain valuable feedback, particularly in relation to the practicality and acceptability of the draft recommendations; whilst the participants are able to contribute to and influence the form of the final guideline, generating a sense of ownership over the guideline across geographical and disciplinary boundaries.

Development annex (national meeting details)

The SIGN Guide to the AGREE guideline appraisal instrument
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) 28 Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1EN Tel. +44 (0) 131-718 5090 Fax. +44 (0) 131-718 5114 Website address: http://www.sign.ac.uk email sign@sign.ac.uk Last modified 6/6/05 © SIGN 2001