Health Protection Guidance Development Methodology

Introduction 

The Research and Guideline Development Unit (RGDU) oversees the process for ensuring the quality of guidance produced by HSE Public Health: National Health Protection Office to support Health Protection practice in Ireland. The principal role of the unit is to encourage consistent high standards of Health Protection practice by promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the development of quality assured guidance.  

The RGDU has evolved a structured framework for developing health protection guidance in Ireland, under the governance of the National Health Protection Office (NHPO). The framework draws on international best practice e.g. GIN–McMaster, WHO, NCEC and ensures recommendations are adapted for the Irish context.

Key elements:

  • Evidence-Informed Approach: Prioritises systematic literature reviews but also incorporates clinical expertise, stakeholder input, and local context.
  • Two Main Methodologies:
    • Consensus-Based Recommendations (CBR): Uses formal consensus methods (e.g., Delphi, Nominal Group Technique) that are effective in fusing the requisite evidence sources to ensure a rigorous, comprehensive and equitable evidence base for public health practice.
    • Good Practice Guidance (GPG): Relies on expert opinion and “colloquial evidence” through a seven-stage process.
  • Principles: Transparency, systematic methods, multidisciplinary collaboration and inclusion of diverse expertise, conflict of interest management, and iterative feedback.
  • Governance & Review: Led by the Director for National Health Protection; guidance reviewed every three years or updated if new evidence emerges.

Goal: Deliver credible, contextually relevant health protection guidance based on best available evidence and expert consensus.

For further information on the approaches and methodological processes used by the RGDU refer to the following;

 

Publications

The following article published by the RGDU examines the use of formal consensus methods employed in the adaptation of the United Kingdom's National measles guidelines for the public health management of measles in Ireland. The authors explore the efficacy of a modified e-Delphi approach and Nominal Group Technique (NGT) adopted for these purposes. 

Applying Formal Consensus Methods To Enhance The Credibility Of Public Health Guideline Development – A Case Study

 

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For further information please contact the Research and Guideline Development Unit at: rgdu@hpsc.ie

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