Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Methamphetamine Use Disorder 

University of Calgary

Applied + Community Research

The University of Calgary is a leading research-intensive institution with a strong focus on advancing evidence-based care in mental health and addiction.

The Department of Psychiatry engaged Changemark to support the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of methamphetamine use disorder, addressing both community-based and pharmaceutical interventions in acute care and psychosis settings. 

Challenge

Methamphetamine use has become one of Canada’s most urgent public health challenges, contributing to rising rates of psychosis, hospitalization, and strain on healthcare systems. 

To respond, the University of Calgary convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts to lead provincial guideline development. However, progress had stalled early in the GRADE process due to the complexity of coordinating evidence review, ranking, and synthesis across multiple committees and stakeholders. 

The client required comprehensive project management and technical expertise to: 

  • Advance the guideline from initial scoping to evidence synthesis and drafting; 

  • Establish clear governance and oversight to coordinate two parallel committees; and 

  • Produce a peer-reviewed, publication-ready set of clinical practice guidelines. 

Solution

Changemark provided full-cycle support for the development of the Methamphetamine Use Disorder Clinical Practice Guidelines, integrating evidence synthesis, project coordination, and medical writing under a structured, transparent governance model.  

By combining methodological expertise with operational precision, Changemark helped accelerate progress through each stage of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) process while ensuring scientific rigor and stakeholder alignment.  

The project included:

Framework + Governance  

  • Co-development of the clinical practice guideline framework and governance structure, operationalizing the GRADE process across two committees with clear oversight and accountability 

  • Creation of streamlined communication and decision-making systems, enabling clinical experts, methodologists, and project leads to collaborate effectively  


Evidence Synthesis + Consensus Building  

  • Management of the systematic review process, including literature searches, screening, critical appraisal, and evidence grading across multiple PICO questions 

  • Integration of consensus-building mechanisms, supporting the GRADE Committee in ranking evidence and developing recommendations through structured deliberation sessions 

  • Facilitation of meetings and documentation workflows to ensure traceability and transparency throughout the guideline development process 

Writing + Publication Support 

  • Creation of evidence summaries, algorithms, and clinical pathways aligned with GRADE recommendations 

  • Preparation and refinement of draft content, incorporating iterative feedback from committee members and external reviewers 

  • Coordination of the external review and revision process, ensuring readiness for publication and dissemination 

Results

Changemark successfully advanced the guidelines from early-stage scoping through to a near-finalized, publication-ready draft. 

Impact Highlights:

  • Established a robust governance and workflow framework, enabling two committees to operate cohesively under unified processes 

  • Accelerated evidence synthesis and consensus development, maintaining progress within scope and timeline 

  • Produced a high-quality, GRADE-compliant draft scheduled for external review in mid-2024 

  • Strengthened institutional capacity for future evidence-based guideline development across mental health and addiction domains 

The resulting guideline will provide clear, evidence-graded recommendations for clinicians treating methamphetamine use disorder and managing associated psychosis, advancing clinical consistency and improving care across Alberta and beyond. 

Interested in Learning More?

Let’s talk about how we can help you design, write, and manage evidence-based clinical practice guidelines from concept to publication. 

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