Virtual Meeting
Regrets: Rachel Rodin (PHAC), Chantal Plante (PHAC)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Task Force held its June 2020 meeting online via videoconference. Dr. Thombs opened the meeting with some announcements to explain the logistics of using the online platform, provided instructions in case of technological issues, as well as updates on the meeting agenda. It was noted that the Falls breakout session on June 16 was cancelled. Dr. Thombs encouraged the Task Force members to actively engage in discussions throughout the meeting, and to avoid using the chat function for discussions if possible, in order to ensure a single sustained conversation with all Task Force members.
Mr. Traversy presented on the Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults guideline, providing an update on the Working Group’s approach towards assessing imprecision as well as preliminary results from the systematic review.
Dr. Pillay and Dr. Moore presented an update on the external review processes for the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea systematic review and guideline, including an overview of comments from stakeholders and peer reviewers on both documents and possible Task Force responses to guideline feedback.
Ms. Barnhardt and Ms. Curé provided an update on recent activities and initiatives of the Communication team.
Members of the Knowledge Translation team provided updates on their recent activities and initiatives. This update included information on upcoming guidelines, new and upcoming Knowledge Translation tools, dissemination activities, Task Force projects involving Knowledge Translation, annual evaluations and the Task Force Public Advisors Network (TF-PAN) initiative.
Dr. Grad presented updates on the recent work done by the Prostate Cancer Working Group, presented the proposed Key Questions and sought Task Force approval for these proposed Key Questions.
The Task Force members had a discussion on equity in guidance on preventive health care.
Ms. Gates presented an update on the Fragility Fractures guideline and sought approval from Task Force members for Key Question 2 and Key Question 3a, and a decision on whether to proceed with Key Question 3b.
Dr. Thombs presented proposed approaches for addressing Task Force capacity and sustainability challenges and opening the discussion to Task Force members to provide feedback and additional suggestions.
Dr. Persaud presented a brief update on the Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing guideline.
Mr. Beck provided an update on the development of the Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing protocol, an outline of the general approach for each Key Question and a review of the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Setting) tables and studies relevant for the guideline. Mr. Beck informed the Task Force that the Ottawa Evidence Review and Synthesis Centre is currently working on the early stages of the protocol.
The Working Group Chairs provided brief verbal updates of the status and recent activities of each guideline working group.
The Task Force members had a discussion, led by Dr. Thombs, about Task Force operations during and after COVID-19.
Dr. Thombs thanked everyone for attending the meeting and thanked the Task Force Office for organizing it. He also thanks the Evidence Review and Synthesis Centres and the Science Team for their hard work. He announced that the next Task Force meeting will take place online again, on Oct 26-27, 2020. The June 2020 virtual meeting was adjourned.