Evaluation of the Quality of Cancer-Related Fatigue Clinical Practice Guidelines

Abstract

Background: Improvement of the quality ofcancer-related fatigue clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is an important issue in oncology. Aim: This study aimed to determine the methodological quality of CPGs about cancer-related fatigue management using the AGREE II instrument. Method: This study involved a systematic search, followed by a descriptive study, to evaluate the methodological quality of CPGs about CRF using the AGREE II instrument in 2018. A comprehensive search was conducted on different websites and databases to find the eligible published guidelines from the observation time to Jan 2018. After screening the guidelines based on eligibility criteria, the selected CPGs were assessed by five independent appraisers by means of the updated AGREE II instrument developed in 2013. Results: According to the results, applicability and editorial independence domains had obtained low quality scores. However, the scores of the rest of the domains were indicative of a favorable quality level. Implications for Practice: It is essential to improve the quality of CRF CPGs and design high-quality CPGs especially in terms of applicability and editorial independence domains.

Keywords

• Cancer-related fatigue
• Clinical practice guidelines
• Quality