title: Methodologies for the development of the management of cough: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This series of guidance documents on cough, which will be published over time, is a hybrid of two processes: (1) evidence-based guidelines and (2) trustworthy consensus statements based on a robust and transparent process.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CHEST Guidelines Oversight Committee selected a nonconflicted Panel Chair and jointly assembled an international panel of experts in each clinical area with few, if any, conflicts of interest. PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcome)-based key questions and parameters of eligibility were developed for each clinical topic to inform the comprehensive literature search. Existing guidelines, systematic reviews, and primary studies were assessed for relevance and quality. Data elements were extracted into evidence tables and synthesized to provide summary statistics. These, in turn, are presented to support the evidence-based graded recommendations. A highly structured consensus-based Delphi approach was used to provide expert advice on all guidance statements. Transparency of process was documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence-based guideline recommendations and consensus-based suggestions were carefully crafted to provide direction to health-care providers and investigators who treat and/or study patients with cough. Manuscripts and tables summarize the evidence in each clinical area supporting the recommendations and suggestions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The resulting guidance statements are based on a rigorous methodology and transparency of process. Unless otherwise stated, the recommendations and suggestions meet the guidelines for trustworthiness developed by the Institute of Medicine and can be applied with confidence by physicians, nurses, other health-care providers, investigators, and patients.
authors.affiliation: From the CHEST, Glenview, IL.
authors.forename: Sandra Zelman
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: From the CHEST, Glenview, IL. Electronic address: rdiekemper@chestnet.org.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Diekemper
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: Cynthia T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: French
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA.
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D032921:Consensus; D003371:Cough / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States