EFIC Clinical Practice Guidelines Requirements

This page outlines the minimum criteria that must be met for the European Pain Federation EFIC to co-sign a Practice Recommendation.

Clinical Practice Guidelines (or “clinical guidelines”) are “statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options”.

Aims of guidelines (if developed and implemented according to international standards):

Reduce unwarranted practice variation,
Enhance translation of research into practice,
Improve healthcare quality and safety.

Applications of guidelines:

Provide best practice recommendations for the treatment and care of people by health professionals,
Develop standards to assess the clinical practice of individual health professionals and healthcare organizations,
Help educate and train health professionals
Help patients make informed decisions.

A valid guideline has the potential to influence care outcomes, but it needs to be effectively disseminated and implemented (informing care processes). The EFIC label can help with this dissemination.

The “Clinical Practice Guidelines” method is the preferred approach for developing best practice recommendations. However, the “Formal Consensus-Based Recommendations” method should be considered in some instances:

Used when high-quality scientific evidence is insufficient or unavailable.
Applicable when the topic can be divided into well-defined clinical scenarios (e.g., specific indications, decision criteria).
Necessary in cases of controversy, where an independent expert panel (including patient partners when appropriate) must select the most appropriate practices among multiple alternatives.

Informal consensus from a group of experts should be avoided (risk of bias as the more confident speakers within a group are favoured).

Steps to Ensure the Quality of Clinical Practice Guidelines and EFIC Endorsement

Define the Scope & Key Questions
- Identify key clinical issues and establish the objectives of the recommendations.
- Involve patient partners from the outset, if appropriate.
Conduct a Rigorous Literature Review & Evidence Assessment
- Clearly define the PICO framework (Patients / Intervention / Comparator / Outcome) to select studies based on predefined inclusion criteria.
- Specify the methodology for literature search and data analysis, and register it in a publicly accessible registry (e.g., PROSPERO).
- Identify relevant studies from multiple sources, including unpublished data when applicable.
- Evaluate the risk of bias using a validated and up-to-date tool.
- Ensure systematic data collection with duplicate extraction for accuracy.
Synthesize Data Effectively
- Perform a meta-analysis if appropriate.
Engage an Expert Panel & Conduct a Consensus Process
- Assemble a multidisciplinary panel to interpret findings and ensure clinical relevance.
- Use a structured formal consensus method (e.g., Delphi).
Public Consultation & Validation
- Gather feedback from key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and patient representatives.
- Guidelines must be actionable: Provide clear recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and management.
Implementation & Evaluation
- Ensure effective dissemination and integration of recommendations into clinical practice.
- Establish a plan for regular updates based on new evidence.

Please see below a sample checklist that will be used for assessment:

Provisional project title	Enter text
Coordinator name	Enter text
Coordinator email address	Enter text

Project proposed as an EFIC-led initative?	YES	NO
If no, lead organisation:	Enter text

Evaluation
1. Alignment with EFIC’s Objectives				Rating 1-5
Does the project aim to promote excellence in pain management?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Does the project aim to improve the quality of life of people living with pain?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
2. Scientific and Clinical Relevance
Is the topic a significant and timely issue in the field of pain management?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Do the guidelines address an unmet or insufficiently addressed clinical need?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Are the goals of the project clear, realistic, and supported by evidence?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
3. Proposed Methodology
Is the methodology for developing the project rigorous, transparent, and consistent with international standards (e.g., GRADE, AGREE, PROSPERO registration)?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Will the project include up-to-date and evidence-based information?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Is there a plan to evaluate the impact of the project after publication?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
4. EFIC’s Role and Recognition (for non EFIC-led projects only)
Is EFIC’s role in the development process clearly defined (e.g., consultant, co-author, reviewer)?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Will EFIC be officially recognized as a co-signer or co-developer of the project?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Will EFIC’s contributions be clearly acknowledged in all publications and communications related to the project?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
5. Collaboration and Interdisciplinarity
Are the partners involved in the project credible, reputable, and aligned with EFIC’s values?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Is the approach interdisciplinary, incorporating diverse perspectives within the field of pain management?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
6. Required Resources
Besides volunteer input, what resources are requested from EFIC to support the project	Enter text
Is the proposed timeline realistic and compatible with EFIC’s existing commitments?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
7. Impact and Reach of the project
Will the project have a significant impact on clinical practice and patient care?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Does the project include plans to ensure broad dissemination and adoption of the output, particularly among healthcare professionals and policymakers?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Are the results of the project likely to be adopted or adapted across European countries?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
8. Conflicts of Interest and Independence
Does the project involve a clear conflict of interest management approach?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR
Will EFIC maintain its independence and objectivity throughout the process?	YES	NO	UNCLEAR