Page 81 - 80 guidelines for the treatment of malaria_opt

ANNEX 1. The Guidelines development process

• high quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the A1
estimate of effect;
• moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our
confidence in the estimate of effect, and it may change the estimate;
• low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our
confidence in the estimate of effect, and it is likely to change the estimate;
• very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.
(Please note the GRADE approach also describes a method for upgrading the quality of
evidence for non-randomized data that is outside the scope of this annex.)

FOrMULATION OF rECOMMENDATIONS
In moving from evidence to formulating recommendations, the GRADE process shows
the values and preferences that influenced the decision-making process. The GRADE
panel identified the critical or important outcomes for answering the clinical questions.
The strength of recommendations is rated on a two-point scale:
• weak: the panel considers that the benefits of the intervention probably outweigh the
risks;
• strong: the panel is confident that the benefits of the intervention outweigh the risks.
The guidelines development process and publication was fully funded by WHO. It is
planned that the evidence will be reviewed on an annual basis, and that these guidelines
will be updated periodically. Similarly, a mechanism for periodically monitoring and
evaluating the use of the treatment guidelines in countries will be established.

a1.2 members of the Guidelines development Group

Temporary advisers
Dr D. Baza, National Malaria Control Programme Manager, Ministry of Health,
Burundi
Professor K. Barnes, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, South
Africa
Professor F. Binka (Co-chairman), School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra,
Ghana

67