Abstract
PRIMARY TRACK
Guideline development
SECONDARY TRACK
Adapting guidelines and sharing work locally and internationally
BACKGROUND (INTRODUCTION)
NICE International was set up by the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), to draw upon their experience and provide advice, technical assistance, and training to countries seeking to improve evidence-based health care provision. In 2008/9, NICE International, in conjunction with the Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) and Jordanian stakeholders, set up a pilot project to build an evidence-based guideline for hypertension in Jordan. It has been specifically set up to draw upon NICE's experiences working with the NHS in the UK.
PURPOSE
To develop evidence-based guidance for the pharmacologic treatment of essential hypertension in primary care for Jordan, by adapting the NICE guideline on hypertension to the Jordanian setting.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES (TRAINING GOALS)
Understand work streams of NICE International: helping develop clinical guidelines in developing countries (Jordan). Understand how existing guidelines can be adapted to different countries' health care settings.
METHODS
Over a period of 6 months of planned activities and workshops, two teams of technical experts (NICE and Jordanian) and a Jordanian guideline development group (GDG) worked in collaboration to develop the guidance. The NICE guideline on pharmacological treatment of hypertension was updated with the most recent clinical evidence, and the economic model was adapted using Jordanian health-care data, costs, and quality-of-life estimates.
RESULTS
The clinical and health economic evidence was used by the GDG to formulate recommendations and develop a drug-treatment algorithm for managing hypertension in primary care in Jordan. A report was also developed outlining recommendations for system and structural improvements.
DISCUSSION (CONCLUSION)
The development of an evidence-based treatment algorithm in Jordan was seen as a constructive development towards change in the Jordanian health-care system. Planning for the implementation and dissemination stages has now ensued. The success of the treatment algorithm will increase the weight of evidence-informed policymaking in Jordan, and should result in a change in clinical practice.
TARGET AUDIENCE(S)
Evidence synthesizer, developer of systematic reviews or meta-analyses Guideline developer Guideline implementer Developer of guideline-based products Quality improvement manager/facilitator Health care policy analyst/policymaker Medical providers and executives