Researchers presented clinically relevant guideline-based indicators (GBIs) for adult myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a recent publication in Blood Advances (2020;4[16]:4029-4044. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002314).
“GBIs have not been developed for patients with hematological neoplasms, including MDSs. This lack impedes a standardized and systematic assessment of appropriateness and quality of care using clinical development cycles,” explained the study authors.
Throughout the study, evidence-based MDS guidelines and recommendations published between 1999 and 2018 were screened. All information relevant to developing GBIs was organized into a handbook by a multidisciplinary expert panel group consisting of MDS experts, health professionals, and patient advocates. Members of the expert panel group rated each candidate GBI on a 9-point scale with 1 indicating “do not agree” and 9 indicating “totally agree” with a maximum of 45 points per GBI. GBIs were selected based on the collective agreement scores.
Agreements among the panel group led to the development of 29 clinically relevant GBIs for diagnosis (n=14), therapy (n=8), and provider/infrastructural characteristics (n=7) for the care of adult MDS patients.
“Our GBIs represent the first comprehensive consensus on measurable elements addressing best practice performance, outcomes, and structural resources,” concluded the study authors. “They can be used as a standardized instrument with the goal of assessing, comparing, and fostering good quality of care within clinical development cycles in the daily care of adult MDS patients.” —Lisa Kuhns
