KDIGO Life Cycle of Guideline Development Series Part 6: Bridging the Gap between Guidelines and Clinical Practice: The KDIGO Approach to Global Implementation and Education in Nephrology.

Abstract

The development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines is a cornerstone of modern nephrology to facilitate shared decision-making, yet the creation of a guideline represents only the initial phase of the mission to improve outcomes for people living with kidney disease. The true impact of the rigorous, scientific process of Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline development is realized only when recommendations are effectively disseminated, understood by healthcare professionals and patients, and implemented in clinical settings throughout the world. This manuscript outlines the comprehensive strategy employed by KDIGO to bridge the gap between global guidance and local practice. We review the core mission of KDIGO, the philosophy of "global guidance, local implementation," and the robust suite of educational tools, summits, and digital initiatives designed to disseminate the key messages from the guidelines and educate healthcare professionals to implement the guidelines in order to optimize patient outcomes worldwide.