gms | German Medical Science

Aim: The guideline developer organisation takes a proactive approach to supporting implementation and dissemination of its guidelines and related patient information to improve the quality of health services. As part of this approach and to support the guideline developer organisation’s commitment to involving patients and the public in all aspects of guideline activity, a group of patients and members of the public were recruited to have a role in the guideline developer organisation's dissemination and implementation strategy.

Methods: Recruitment: The guideline developer organisation recruited a group of volunteers via voluntary groups and volunteer centres aiming to recruit representative people including those from equality and diversity groups. Training and support: To achieve the potential benefit of volunteers, the guideline developer organisation provided them with training to allow them become confident in their role. Training involved: 1.providing background to guideline development and patient involvement processes; 2.presentation and communication skills and; 3.use of buddies.

Results: Involving patients and carers as volunteers has been successful in raising awareness of the guideline developer organisation and its publications with a range of stakeholders. The example below illustrates one way volunteers have contributed to the implementation and dissemination strategy. Giving talks to voluntary and community groups. Example: general overview of guideline development organisation to a diabetes support group Number of members participating: 20 Feedback: “members considered the talk worthwhile, most hadn’t heard of the organisation. They were interested in the publications”