Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to describe how colorectal practice guidelines (PGs) incorporate the patient perspective. Study Design and Setting: We searched in the Guidelines International Network library, MEDLINE, National Guideline Clearing-house, NHS Evidence database, and TRIP database. Two authors independently selected the PGs. We considered recommendations rated or worded as weak or conditional or suggesting multiple options, as potentially preference sensitive. Two authors independently evaluated if, in potentially sensitive recommendations, the patient perspective was incorporated. Results: We included 28 PGs that contained 588 recommendations, being 256 potentially preference sensitive. Ten PGs (36%) included patients in the development process, and 12 (43%) provided information about patients' perspectives. Nine PGs (32%) included recommendations in which the patient perspective was explicitly considered, and 13 (46.4%) that recommended a discussion with the patient. From a total of 588 recommendations, 9.7% (25/256) of potentially preference-sensitive recommendations considered the patient perspective. The inclusion of patients in the development process was associated with a more frequent incorporation of the patient perspective in potentially preference sensitive recommendations (70% vs. 0%; P 0.001). Conclusions: Guideline users should be aware that the incorporation of the patient perspective in colorectal cancer PGs is suboptimal. Guideline developers should make efforts to incorporate the patient perspective, especially in preference-sensitive recommendations. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.