Cancer Council Australia’s Clinical Guidelines Network is progressing well during its transition to publishing online clinical guidelines with its newly developed Cancer Guidelines Portal (wiki-based platform).
Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment and Management of Endometrial Cancer were the first to test the public commenting function on the portal, uploaded to the site in July for comment.
Clinical practice guidelines for surveillance colonoscopy in adenoma follow-up, following curative resection of colorectal cancer, and for cancer surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease
Final draft guidelines were submitted to the National Health and Medical Research Council in August for review and approval at the council’s meeting in October and are expected to be available on the guidelines portal in 2012.
A derivative flowchart, based on the Clinical Practice Guidelines, will also be developed for colonoscopists and general practitioners.
Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, treatment and management of lung cancer
Revision of the treatment section (chapters 5 – Non-small cell lung cancer and 6 – Small cell lung cancer) is underway. Non-small cell lung cancer will be uploaded to the guidelines portal by end of the year for public comment and will be followed by Small cell lung cancer in 2012.
Topic authors for non-small cell lung cancer have assessed the literature and performed critical appraisals on the wiki platform using the online critical appraisal form. Relevant organisations, experts and interested parties will be consulted during the public comment phase.
Prevention and screening will be the next area of focus for revision.
Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of endometrial cancer
The draft guidelines, which focus on management and treatment of apparent early stage low risk and high risk endometrial cancer, were released for public comment on the guidelines portal in early July.
The multidisciplinary working party met in September to review public submissions. A final version of the guidelines is expected to be available on the guidelines portal by the end of the year.
Clinical practice guidelines for the management of sarcoma
Cancer Council Australia has established a working party with assistance from the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group to develop sarcoma management guidelines. Associate Professor Susan Neuhaus is chairing the working party, which had its initial meeting in July.
Key clinical questions have been developed by the working party members and a search strategy developed for literature searches.
Clinical practice guidelines for the management of Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Cancer Council Australia is planning development of guidelines for the detection, assessment and management of Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma, in partnership with Cancer Council NSW.
The multidisciplinary Working Party, chaired by Professor David Whiteman will hold its initial meeting in November.
For more information on guidelines activity contact Clinical Guidelines Network Manager, Christine Vuletich, on 02 8063 4100 or christine.vuletich@cancer.org.au