Table 1. Procedures for Developing a Recommendation Statementa
| Activityb | Responsible Parties | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Topic selection | Topic Prioritization Workgroup, a subset of Task Force members and AHRQ and EPC staff | The Workgroup meets periodically throughout the year |
| Work plan development | The EPC writes work plans with guidance from a topic team consisting of 3 or 4 USPSTF members and a medical officer from AHRQ | From start to finish, these activities take 3-6 months |
| External work plan peer review | Work plans are reviewed by experts in the field | |
| Approval of peer-reviewed work planc | All members of the USPSTF | |
| Draft evidence report | Evidence reports are written by the EPC or by medical officers at AHRQ, depending on the topic | Typically completed within 6-24 months, depending on the scope of the topic |
| Peer review of draft evidence report by experts and partners | All draft evidence reports are sent to a limited number of experts in the field and 6 federal partnersd for review, and Task Force leaders are asked to comment on the draft evidence report | |
| Draft recommendation statement | Task Force members draft the recommendation statement with the AHRQ medical officer | Completed within 2-4 weeks |
| USPSTF review of evidence and vote on draft recommendation statement | All members of the USPSTF | |
| Final evidence report | The EPC or AHRQ medical officer incorporates reviewer comments and finalizes the evidence report | Submitted to AHRQ within 3-6 months after the USPSTF vote |
| Peer review of draft recommendation statement by partners | 22 partners of the USPSTF | Partners typically have 2-3 weeks to review the draft recommendation statement |
| Approval of final recommendation statement | Task Force members | Task Force members typically approve the recommendation statement as final within 1-2 months |
| Release of recommendation statement and evidence report | AHRQ staff | The time from vote to release (publication in journal and posting on Web site) of the recommendation varies |
Notes:
- a AHRQ = Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; EPC = Evidence-based Practice Center; USPSTF = U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
- b Listed in order starting with the initial step.
- c This step usually occurs at a Task Force meeting, although in the case of topic updates, work plan peer review and Task Force approval are exceptional rather than usual.
- rd The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Indian Health Service, National Institutes of Health, and Veterans Administration.
Current as of: June 2007