Involve the Entire Cancer Care Team to Effectively Implement Guidelines

April 12, 2021

Only 19% of strategies to implement clinical practice guidelines are fully effective and the majority (43%) are not effective at all, according to the findings from a clinical review (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2012.08.005) in the European Union. Effective guideline implementation (https://doi.org/10.1136/practneurol-2017-001814) requires teamwork, interprofessional engagement, and selecting the most appropriate tool for the job.

Douglas E. Peterson, DMD, PhD, FDS, RCSEd, is chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee.
Douglas E. Peterson, DMD, PhD, FDS, RCSEd, is chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee.

Through the Practice Guidelines Implementation Network (https://www.asco.org/research-guidelines/quality-guidelines/practice-guidelines-implementation-network-pgin) (PGIN), the American Society of Clinical Oncology connects more than 100 ASCO volunteers to assist in guideline development, review, dissemination, and implementation through their individual networks and peer exchange. The volunteers are recruited through ASCO and state oncology societies and include oncologists in community and academic settings, other disease site content experts with an interprofessional focus on medical, pediatric, surgical, and radiation oncology, oncology nurses, hematology/oncology pharmacists, oncology practice managers, and other related healthcare providers.

Through the network, PGIN members (https://www.asco.org/research-guidelines/quality-guidelines/practice-guidelines-implementation-network-pgin):

A comprehensive, interprofessional approach to oncology guideline dissemination and implementation is essential for delivering state-of-the-science care to patients with cancer, and oncology nurses are invaluable in that work to achieve safe and effective clinical outcomes for patients.

Some of the barriers to guideline implementation include user learning styles and providing guidance at the point of care. To address those challenges, clinicians can access the guidelines in a variety of formats, all at asco.org/guidelines:

PGIN members co-chairing guideline expert panels and other expert members discuss guideline recommendations and their impact on clinical practice in the ASCO Guidelines podcast series (http://asco.org/about-asco/asco-digital/podcasts). Guidelines are also available in an app (http://asco.org/about-asco/asco-digital/apps) that houses expert recommendations, algorithms, and calculators that clinicians can access at the point of care. 


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