Michael Brainin, Chair of the EFNS Scientific CommitteeGian Luigi Lenzi: Could you briefly tell our readers the state of the art of the new Guidelines you are preparing?
Michael Brainin: The current developing Guidelines are more homogenous. Furthermore we are introducing the GRADE system to rate recommendations which makes the grading process more transparent.
(GLL) What’s new in this field in terms of organization and in terms of renewing already published Guidelines?
(MB) Since January 2011 the Guideline Production Group exists and assists guideline developers to apply the GRADE system. Another focus of the Guideline Production Group is the homogeneity of the Guidelines.
(GLL) Which kind of hot topics are you considering for the next Guidelines?
(MB) The next Guidelines to be published are “EFNS/MDS-ES Recommendations for the Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease”, “The use of PCR technology for the diagnosis of infections of the nervous system”, and “EFNS Guidelines on Management of Restless Legs Syndrome: Revised report of an EFNS task force 2011”. The latter Guideline already applied also the GRADE system for their recommendations.
(GLL) What do you suggest to young neurologist in order to apply with their patients these Guidelines?
(MB) Recommendations derived from the GRADE system consider also values and preferences of patients. Thereby a weak recommendation accounts for patients that do not want the recommended course of action. Clinicians should recognise that different choices can be appropriate for different patients and that they must help each patient to arrive at a management decision consistent with his or her values and preferences.
(GLL) How do you record how many readers in the web are having your Guidelines? Are you having any interactions with those readers?
(MB) I am sure this is recorded but we will have to get used to follow-up on this and to develop a blog with our readers.
(GLL) Could Neuropenews be helpful in these kind of interactions?
(MB) Neuropnews could be of tremendous help to develop such a platform. This is all very new and we will have to evaluate our performance within a year.
Michael Brainin is Professorof Neurology at the Donauuniversität Krems, Centre of Neurosciences, Krems, Austria
