Living Evidence uses rapid response pathways to incorporate new, relevant evidence into clinical practice.
Living Guidelines can therefore be:
ALEC uses the world-leading Living Evidence model, combining rigorous, evidence-based methods and rapid updating. This enables us to create and modify recommendations swiftly in response to important new research evidence.
ALEC’s living guidelines use GRADE methods and are designed to meet Australian NHMRC standards.
Guideline Development Process
> Relevant new questions to be addressed are sought from stakeholders and practitioners.
> For prioritised questions, the evidence is actively monitored and updated. An evidence team appraises and synthesises evidence and prepares evidence-to-decision frameworks to inform development of recommendations by multidisciplinary clinical panels.
> A Guideline Leadership Group oversees the development of recommendations.
> The evidence team, clinical panels and Guideline Leadership Group are advised by a Lived Experience Panel.
> After initial agreement by the Guideline Leadership Group, all recommendations then require 100% consensus by a Steering Committee comprised of member organisations.
> Endorsed recommendations are published online and disseminated through traditional and social media channels.
> The process begins again.
Our National Clinical Evidence Taskforce was responsible for the successful development of living guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. We supported health professionals throughout the pandemic by providing up to date, highly valued guidance during a time of significant misinformation. Using the Living Evidence model, the Guidelines were able to be updated weekly and were based on daily evidence surveillance.
Modelling of the impact of the COVID-19 living guidelines suggests that they prevented at least 12,257 COVID-19 hospitalisations and 545 COVID-19 deaths.
The return on investment was $139.86, meaning an approximate $140 return for every $1 invested. Read the published paper here.
