Implementation of the Endocrine Society clinical practice guidelines for gestational diabetes mellitus to a knowledge tool.

BACKGROUND

Despite the production of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in many medical areas, their use is not sufficiently adopted in clinical practice. Incorporation of CPGs in knowledge tools (KnowT) or decision support systems (DSS) for routine use can improve healthcare providers' compliance to CPGs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical practice guidelines for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were searched for, collected and compared. The CPG that met pre-specified criteria ([a] published by a European or American organization between 2010 and 2018, [b] being developed a systematic way and [c] having statements of "level of evidence" and "strength of recommendation") was chosen for implementation (Endocrine Society, 2013). Its recommendations were deconstructed, re-organized and reconstructed as an algorithm (in the form of a flowchart), which was integrated into a KnowT. Content completeness and evaluation of CPG by the Guideline Implementability Appraisal tool (GLIA) were performed as well. The primary objective was the development of a clinical algorithm in the field of GDM and its integration into a KnowT. The secondary objective was to demonstrate the completeness of the CPG content and evaluate its implementability in the KnowT.

RESULTS

Endocrine Society 2013 CPG was restructured as a flowchart, and a KnowT was constructed with the use of the "Openlabyrinth" software. The completeness of the content was confirmed, and GLIA appraisal demonstrated its implementability.

CONCLUSION

Endocrine Society 2013 CPG for GDM is a complete set of recommendations. Its structure makes possible the design of a clinical algorithm and its implementation into a KnowT.