Bridging the divide: addressing discrepancies between clinical guidelines, policy guidelines, and biomarker utilization

Denis Horgan (Corresponding Author), Paul Hofman, Reinhard Buttner, Olaf Rieß, Iwona Lugowska, France Dube, Jaya Singh, Ernest Nadal, Tomasz Stokłosa, Elīna Sīviņa, Marc Van der Buckle, Silvia Mosoiu, Luca Bertolaccini, Nicolas Girard, Jan Van Meerbeeck, Imran Omar, Ettore D Capoluongo, Stefan Bielack, Tanya Hills, David BaldwinVivek Subbiah

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to identify and address gaps in cancer treatment and diagnosis within European health services, focusing specifically on discrepancies between clinical guidelines and policy guidelines. It seeks to highlight how the underutilization of advanced diagnostic techniques recommended by medical societies contributes to missed opportunities for improving patient outcomes.

    METHODS: A comprehensive analysis was conducted across multiple European countries to assess the compliance and integration of clinical guidelines with the availability of advanced diagnostic technologies. Secondary data related to clinical and policy guidelines in cancer care were collected and analyzed. Key indicators of adoption and utilization of next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsy were examined to evaluate their impact on health service efficiency and patient care.

    RESULTS: The analysis revealed significant discrepancies between the recommendations of medical societies regarding advanced diagnostic techniques and their adoption in health policy decisions across Europe. Country-specific assessments indicated varying levels of alignment between clinical guidelines and the availability of advanced diagnostics. These findings underscored missed opportunities for optimizing patient care and health service efficiency through better alignment and integration of clinical guidelines with policy decisions.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that there is a critical need for health policy decision-makers to prioritize the adoption of clinical guidelines in resource allocation and health service organization. Greater attention to the recommendations of medical societies regarding advanced diagnostic techniques could significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy, treatment efficacy, and overall patient outcomes in cancer care. The paper advocates for policy reforms that acknowledge and leverage the potential benefits of advanced diagnostics in improving health service performance and patient-centered care across Europe.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalDiagnosis
    DOIs
    Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 1 Aug 2024

    Keywords*

    • clinical guidelines

    Field of Science*

    • 3.2 Clinical medicine
    • 3.3 Health sciences

    Publication Type*

    • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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