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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ultrasound Int Open 2019; 05(01): E2-E10
DOI: 10.1055/a-0770-3965
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Eigentümer und Copyright ©Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2018

European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) Policy Document Development Strategy – Clinical Practice Guidelines, Position Statements and Technological Reviews

Christian Jenssen
1   Krankenhaus Märkisch Oderland Strausberg/ Wriezen, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Wriezen, Germany
,
Odd Helge Gilja
2   National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
,
Andreas L. Serra
3   Klinik Hirslanden, Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Fabio Piscaglia
4   Div. Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Bologna, Italy
,
Christoph F. Dietrich
5   Caritas-Krankenhaus, Medizinische Klinik 2, Bad Mergentheim, Germany
,
Lynne Rudd
6   European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) , General Secretary, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Paul S. Sidhu
7   King’s College London, Radiology, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 07 June 2018
revised 07 June 2018

accepted 10 October 2018

Publication Date:
21 November 2018 (online)

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Abstract

This document summarizes principles and methodology to guide the creation of Clinical Practice Guidelines, Position Statements und Technological Reviews of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB). The purpose of EFSUMB Clinical Practice Guidelines is to provide physicians and sonographers performing or requesting diagnostic and interventional ultrasound examinations with evidence-based recommendations. Position Statements summarize EFSUMB opinions on important current issues in clinical applications, education and training of ultrasound techniques or health care policy related to ultrasound-based imaging and ultrasound-guided interventions. The third type of EFSUMB policy document is the Technological Review, which describes ultrasound techniques and technologies for physicians, medical technicians, engineers and physicists developing ultrasound technology. The whole process of development of EFSUMB policy documents is explained beginning with the decision regarding topics, selection of authors, funding, and planning of the developmental process. Further steps described in this document are the review of the evidence, creation of recommendations, statements and comments, grading of level of evidence and strength of recommendations, and consensus process. Finally, rules for the creation, review, approval, publication and update of EFSUMB policy documents are described.

Key words

evidence - ultrasound - clinical practice guidelines - technological reviews - position statements
 

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