11 Finalising and publishing the guideline
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11 Finalising and publishing the guideline
11.1 Quality assurance of and signing off the guideline
The quality of the guideline is assured by relevant staff, as described in Chapter 10. The Guidance Executive, made up of NICE executive directors, guidance centre directors and senior team members, considers and approves guidelines for publication on behalf of the NICE Board.
Equality and health inequalities assessment
After consultation, and throughout the work done until the finalised guideline is submitted for sign-off, the equality and health inequality assessment is updated by the developer and the committee to show whether any additional equality issues have been identified, and how these have been addressed. The equality and health inequality assessment is also quality assured and signed off by relevant staff. The assessment is then published on the NICE website with the final guideline.
Signing off the guideline
When considering a guideline for publication, the Guidance Executive reviews a report from NICE staff with responsibility for guideline quality assurance. The report details whether the guideline:
addresses all the issues identified in the scope
is consistent with the evidence quoted
was developed using the agreed process and methods
was developed with due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality and foster good relations (see above section of equalities and health inequalities assessment)
will lead to a resource impact when implemented.
On assessment of the report, the Guidance Executive may ask the guideline developers to answer specific queries. The Guidance Executive may also refer any matter to the Executive Team or Board for resolution if it considers a matter to be of particular significance or concern.
11.2 Embargoed release (releasing an advance copy to stakeholders)
Please refer to section X in Chapter 10 for information on embargoed release.
11.3 Publication
The guideline, including evidence reviews, methods, key messages for the public, equality and health inequality assessment, responses to stakeholder comments, and support tools (see the chapter on resources to support putting the guideline into practice) are usually published at the same time.
11.4 Promoting awareness of the guideline
The developer and committee work with NICE's media relations team and with the implementation lead where relevant, to disseminate and promote awareness of the guideline at the time of publication and afterwards.
NICE may use a range of methods to raise awareness of the guideline. These include:
notifying registered stakeholders of publication
publishing news articles, blogs, newsletters and alerts
issuing a press release
using social media channels, and
promoting the guideline within NICE.
NICE may also use other means of raising awareness of the guideline – for example, training programmes, conferences, or implementation workshops. Each guideline is different and activities for raising awareness will vary depending on the type and content of the guideline.
Press and other communication events
A structured and considered exchange of information between NICE and the media helps promoting awareness of the guideline and allows any potentially controversial aspects of a guideline to be explained and set in context.
Press meetings or conferences
At guideline publication, a press release may be issued, a press meeting may be held, or both, but only if heightened media interest in the topic is likely.
Interviews and filming
At or outside a press conference, the media relations team may set up interviews or filming with:
people involved in developing the guideline (such as committee members)
people with personal experience in the area the guideline covers or
representatives from charities and other stakeholders.
Social media communication
A guideline publication is usually accompanied by activity on social media which may include graphics, animations, videos and quotes from key committee members or NICE directors. In most cases, this work will be prepared ahead of publication.
Rules about press and other communication events
Communication from NICE and committee members to the media
Information may be provided to the media under embargo until publication of the guideline. Committee members and guideline developers should make NICE aware of any press enquiries they receive before the guideline is published, and should not answer them without involving the media relations team.
Media promotion of the guideline by external organisations
Committee members and guideline developers should tell the media relations team if they find out that external organisations are planning their own media promotion for the guideline (for example by issuing their own press release).
Separate events arranged by committee members
Committee members may also wish to arrange separate events at which practitioners, providers, commissioners and people using services and the public can learn more about the guideline. Developers should inform committee members that in such cases, NICE's media relations team should be notified at the earliest possible opportunity.
Material developed from guideline content
Any materials developed from guideline content should be submitted to NICE staff with a quality assurance role, prior to submission or presentation to external audiences.
Committee members who wish to publish their materials for a UK audience only may do so under the NICE UK Open Content Licence. This is a self-assessment exercise and no fee is involved.
The international use of NICE content is subject to a formal licensing agreement, but without a fee for those who have contributed to the development of NICE guidance. Please see NICE's webpage on reusing our content.
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