Comparison of Content and Quality of Caribbean, International, and High-Income Country-Specific Clinical Guidelines for Managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Nixon, Amy Latifah; Chattopadhyay, Kaushik; Leonardi-Bee, Jo

Abstract

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is poorly managed in the Caribbean; therefore, con-ducting an assessment of the content and quality of clinical guidelines will allow guideline de-velopers to detect and address the lacking information. Hence, this study aimed to benchmark and compare the clinical guideline for T2DM management from the Caribbean to a selection developed internationally and by high-income countries.

Methods: Seven T2DM management clinical guidelines were selected a priori as a sample of international and high-income country-specific clinical guidelines and compared to the country-specific T2DM management clinical guideline from the Caribbean. Two reviewers independently assessed the content (using a previously pi-loted data extraction form) and quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool.

Results: The Caribbean clinical guideline was found to contain similar levels of T2DM management topics compared to international and high-income coun-try-specific clinical guidelines; however, one country-specific clinical guideline from New Zealand was found to have a substantially lower level of content. The clinical guideline from the Caribbean was found to have low-quality and could not be used in practice; however, only three comparator clinical guidelines were found to have a high-quality and could be recommended for use in clinical practice. A further three comparator clinical guidelines could be used in practice with minor modifications.

Conclusion: Although the T2DM management clinical guideline from the Carib-bean contained a high level of content with regards to relevant topics, it was of insufficient quality to be used in clinical practice. Therefore, an alternative high-quality clinical guideline as identified within this study should be adopted and used within the Caribbean to manage T2DM until a high-quality region-specific clinical guideline is developed.

Citation

Nixon, A. L., Chattopadhyay, K., & Leonardi-Bee, J. (2021). Comparison of Content and Quality of Caribbean, International, and High-Income Country-Specific Clinical Guidelines for Managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), Article 12868. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412868

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 1, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Dec 7, 2021
• Publication Date: Dec 2, 2021
• Deposit Date: Dec 1, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 10, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Electronic ISSN: 1660-4601
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 24
• Article Number: 12868
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412868
• Keywords: Caribbean; clinical guidelines; high-income countries; improved outcomes; international; management; type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6843757
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/24/12868