Exploring the value, use and impact of the Living Diabetes Guidelines – A mixed methods evaluation

The Living Evidence for Diabetes Consortium is a collaboration between the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), Diabetes Australia (DA), the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) and the Australia and New Zealand Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ANZSPED), with representation from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Cochrane Australia. The Living Evidence for Diabetes Consortium currently has three living guidelines that have been approved by the NHMRC and are available in Australia. These guidelines are: (1) Medical device technology for the management of type 1 diabetes and (2) Therapeutics for blood glucose management in adults with type 2 diabetes; and (3) In Hospital Management of Glycaemia. These guidelines are live on MAGICApp. The living diabetes guidelines were developed to ensure that people living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Australia are provided with consistent, high quality, evidence based care. We currently have little evidence of guideline awareness, use and impact. Methods for this evaluation will be developed in conjunction with the supervisors, and aligned to the student’s area of interest and expertise. The evaluation will likely involve both qualitative and quantitative methods using surveys and/or interviews. Significance: This project will help to inform future updates to the guideline including dissemination and promotion methods and to improve collaborations and engagement with health professionals and organisations. This project will be based within the Australian Living Evidence Collaboration at Cochrane Australia. Our fantastic members comprise national and international experts in living evidence synthesis and implementation. We look forward to welcoming an excellent honours student to join our team.