ACS revises process for cancer screening guidance

The American Cancer Society (ACS) announced it has revised its process for forming cancer screening guidelines to provide greater transparency, consistency, and rigor.

Aligning with new principles from the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM), the new methods create a single generalist group for writing the guidelines, commissioning systematic evidence reviews, and articulating the benefits, limitations, and harms associated with cancer screening tests, according to ACS.

Activities and timelines will be posted on the ACS website. Expert input will be separated from the writing of the guidelines, so an independent writing group will receive appropriate subspecialty expertise while protecting it from the appearance of professional conflict of interest, according to ACS.

In addition, the process will incorporate a systematic evidence review that will use methods consistent with IOM standards, and the guidelines group will grade the strength of its recommendations, according to the society. A formal review will conclude the process and will include opportunities for experts and professional organizations to comment on draft guidelines, ACS said.

An independent advisory group will also periodically review the guideline process itself to assure clarity, utility, and influence of the guidelines, according to ACS. A formal review and rewriting of every ACS cancer screening guideline will take place at least every five years.

The new process is outlined in a special communication in the December 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.