title: Evaluation of the methodological quality of the Health Protection Agency's 2009 guidance on neuraminidase inhibitors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Health Protection Agency (HPA) issued guidance advocating the prescription of neuraminidase inhibitors in July 2009 in response to a predicted pandemic of influenza. Although the contents of the guidance have been debated, the methodology has not.
  
  
  METHODS
  The guidance was evaluated by two reviewers using a validated and internationally recognised tool for assessing guidelines, the Appraisal of Guidelines Research & Evaluation instrument (AGREE). This tool scores six domains independently of each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The guidance scored  61% for the domain scope and purpose and 54% for the domain clarity and presentation. By contrast, it scored only 31% for rigour of development due to poor linkage of its recommendations to evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HPA should improve its performance in this domain to general practitioners  in order to improve the credibility of its future guidance.
authors.affiliation: Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK. k.hopayian@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Kevork
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hopayian
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061214:Patient Safety; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009439:Neuraminidase