The ASCO Guideline Procedures Manual is designed to assist ASCO expert guideline panels in the development of ASCO guidelines and technology assessments. The Manual was developed by the ASCO Health Services Committee’s Guideline Methodology Subcommittee, and was approved by the Health Services Committee on September 27, 2005. The Manual is considered a living document that will be updated periodically by the Methodology Subcommittee, as needed.
The Manual is organized around the major steps in the ASCO guideline development process, from topic proposal to the dissemination and implementation process. Comments on the Manual from panel co-chairs are welcomed and encouraged. Direct any comments to Mark Somerfield at 703-299-1086 or guidelines@asco.org. Guideline development is an intensive process; ASCO’s goal is to make it as easy and efficient as possible for volunteers.Guidelines represent a key component of ASCO’s commitment to improving the quality of cancer care.
Guideline Conflict of Interest Policy
As the leading medical society for physicians involved in cancer treatment and research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has an important role in helping physicians deliver quality oncology care. One of the primary ways in which ASCO fulfills this responsibility is through the development of clinical practice guidelines, technology assessments, and clinical evidence reviews. Public confidence in these guidelines depends on the cultivation of expert opinions based on the best available evidence and in a manner designed to minimize actual and perceived conflicts of interest.
For ASCO, guideline development is a multi-step process. Once drafted by a diverse panel of experts, guidelines must be approved by the Health Services Committee, adopted by the Board of Directors, and peer-reviewed in accordance with rigorous standards set by the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). The procedures summarized here provide strategies for managing potential conflicts of interest through each phase of guideline development.
