Upon completing Module 7, students will be able to:

 

• Define clinical guidelines and differentiate between formally evidence-based guidelines, which rely on systematic literature reviews and explicit grading of evidence quality, and consensus-based guidelines, which depend more on expert agreement when data are limited. Understand how both approaches contribute to evidence-based medicine by turning research and expert insight into practical recommendations for patient care.

 

• Describe the guideline development process, including how topics are selected, evidence is gathered and appraised, and consensus is reached (e.g., via Delphi method).

 

• Analyze the EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hepatitis B as a case study, outlining how they were developed (panel composition, evidence, Delphi rounds, timeline).

 

• Compare different methodologies used by organizations (e.g., EASL vs. AASLD vs. others), noting how approaches to evidence grading, consensus, and updates can vary.

 

• Recognize best practices and standards for high-quality guidelines – including transparency, managing conflicts of interest, patient involvement in development, and procedures for updating (e.g., “living” guidelines).