Endorsements

Name of the guideline:  Nursing Recommendations for the Management of Vascular Access in Adult Hemodialysis Patients 2023 Update

Consensus statements and clinical practice guidelines provide guidance to clinicians. Both documents provide recommendations for optimizing patient care, but there are important differences between them. A clinical practice guideline produces recommendation informed by a methodologic framework, systematic review of the evidence and a transparent assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative options. A consensus statement is developed by an independent panel of experts, usually multidisciplinary, convened to review the research literature in an evidence-based manner for the purpose of advancing the understanding of an issue, procedure or method (provide ref here).

The Nursing Recommendations for the Management of Vascular Access in Adult Hemodialysis Patients 2023 Update, produced by the CANNT, was reviewed for CSN endorsement independently by 2 members of the CSN CPGC. The recommendations have great relevance and importance to the Canadian Nephrology community and are presented clearly with examples to demonstrate applicability. A panel of experts was convened who reviewed available evidence on this topic without a standardized and published methodologic framework.

The CSN is pleased to endorse the  2023 Update to the Nursing Recommendations for the Management of Vascular Access in Adult Hemodialysis Patients as a Consensus Statement

Type: Endorsement as a Consensus Statement.

Endorsement Date:  November 2024

Name of the guideline: Recommendations for Genetic Testing and Eligibility Criteria 

Consensus statements and clinical practice guidelines provide guidance to clinicians. Both documents provide recommendations for optimizing patient care1, but there are important differences between them. A clinical practice guideline produces recommendation informed by a methodologic framework, systematic review of the evidence and a transparent assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative options. A consensus statement is developed by an independent panel of experts, usually multidisciplinary, convened to review the research literature in an evidence-based manner for the purpose of advancing the understanding of an issue, procedure or method.  

The CSN CPG Committee reviewed the Ontario Health mandated Provincial Genetics Program (PGP) document entitled “Recommendations for Genetic Testing and Eligibility Criteria” for endorsement. Independent review and subsequent summary recommendation was completed in duplicate by CSN CPGC members, and reviewed with CSN CPGC chair and vice chair. The document is developed for implementation in Ontario, though the recommendations do apply and could be adapted to other Canadian jurisdictions. Though not described in the document, the working group did have to disclose all potential or actual conflicts in alignment with Ontario Health’s policies. Importantly, there were no formal GRADE or structured framework used to develop recommendations. However, as we are evaluating this as a consensus statement and not a clinical practice guideline, this is acceptable.

Given the importance of this topic and how relevant it is to jurisdictions across Canada, we (the CSN) are supportive of this document and endorse it as a consensus statement.  

Type: Endorsement as a Consensus Statement.

Endorsement Date:  September 2025

Accompanying resources of interest:

• Chronic Kidney Disease Multigene Panels
• Patient Info Sheet
• Ordering Guidance