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How are you keeping up to date with clinical guidance?

Julia Morris

On page 27 of this issue, Dr Alan Begg reviews the latest trial evidence on the clinical outcomes of tight glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes. In his article, Dr Begg brings together the topline data from a number of recent studies including ADVANCE,1 ACCORD,2 and PROactive.3 Since finalising this article, an additional trial has been published, which provides further supportive evidence that low mean HbA1c values are associated with increased mortality and cardiac events.4 With new data and guidelines being published every day, it is no wonder that busy GPs find it difficult to keep up to date.

The NHS Evidence web portal5 has been designed to make high-quality, evidence-based information more accessible. A number of resources can be accessed via this web-based service including guidelines, drug information, systematic reviews, and primary research. It is as simple to use as other search engines and has the added advantage of only returning information from credible medical sources. Dr Gillian Leng, Chief Operating Officer of NHS Evidence, summarises the benefits on page 43. A monthly e-bulletin—Eyes on evidence—is also available, which raises awareness of significant new evidence, and highlights areas that could signal a change in practice.6

Clinical guidance is a key area that GPs are required to keep up to date with and the articles in Guidelines in Practice are commissioned for this purpose. In addition, the CPD action points provide useful suggestions on how to demonstrate impact based around implementing clinical guidance and also calculate associated CPD credits. These points can also be addressed online at eGuidelines.co.uk and saved in your CPD portfolio.

Julia Morris, Editor
julia.morris@mgp.ltd.uk

References

  1. Patel A, ADVANCE Collaborative Group, MacMahon S et al. Effects of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide on macrovascular and microvascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (the ADVANCE trial): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2007; 370 (9590): 829–840.
  2. Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Study Group, Gerstein H, Miller M et al. Intensive glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2008; 358 (24): 2545–2559.
  3. Dormandy J, Charbonnel B, Eckland D et al; PROactive investigators. Secondary prevention of macrovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes in the PROactive Study (PROspective pioglitAzone Clinical Trial In macroVascular Events): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005; 366 (9493): 1279–1289.
  4. Currie C, Peters J, Tynan A et al. Survival as a function of HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet 2010; 375 (9713): 481–489.
  5. www.evidence.nhs.uk
  6. www.evidence.nhs.uk/aboutus/Pages/NewsPage.aspx#bulletinG

 

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