AML Guideline Development Process

Through a partnership with McMaster University, ASH brought together 17 experts including hematologists, other clinicians, guideline development specialists, and patient representatives to develop comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for AML. Each panel includes U.S. and international experts from multiple disciplines, such as hematology, internal medicine, pharmacy, surgical specialties, oncology, as well as experts in evidence synthesis and guideline development. Each panel also has at least one patient representative, who participates equally with the medical experts throughout the entire development process.

Development of these guidelines is wholly funded by ASH, a non-profit medical specialty society that represents hematologists. Before and during appointment to the panel, individuals disclose both financial and nonfinancial interests. Conflicts of interest are managed through panel composition, disclosure, and recusal.

Once formed, each panel conducted a brainstorming exercise to develop a list of clinical questions and outcomes of interest. Outcomes of interest rated highly by each panel and those identified as important based on the literature reviews are further refined.

Researchers then conducted systematic reviews of intervention effects and searched for evidence related to baseline risks, values, preferences and costs. The panel then developed recommendations after summarizing findings within the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) framework.

Once each panel considers the guidelines complete, they are reviewed by the ASH Executive Committee, which then provides approval for the guidelines to be submitted for peer review and subsequent publication.