Endorsements

In pursuit of its mission to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians by helping general practitioners with issues that affect their practice and development, the RACGP from time to time endorses products that demonstrate credibility in satisfaction of uniform, non-discriminatory and transparent evaluation criteria. The College recognises that its endorsement is an important perceived marker of quality by general practitioners.

Fee Structure

In considering endorsement, the College applies scrutiny to ensure that products are of the highest quality and appropriate for use by general practitioners. In most instances an application fee will be required. This application fee will be comparable with the amount of College resource required to perform the evaluation process. That is, fees will vary between assessing simple resources such as pamphlets and posters to lengthy clinical guidelines.

Successful endorsement translates into permission to use the RACGP name and/or crest. Organisations will, in most cases, be required to pay an endorsement fee and will be expected to comply with terms and conditions described in a formal IP Licence Agreement.

For more information relating to fees and the endorsement process please contact the Representatives and Endorsements Coordinator.

Endorsement Criteria

In evaluating products such as guidelines and similar types of resources, the College applies criteria to ensure the product:

1. Is current and based on best available evidence
2. demonstrates substance and integrity in supporting Guideline Development Material or assessment by the Agree II Instrument as appropriate
3. is free of advertising (actual or perceived) of any commercially available Product with which the applicant is in any way associated for commercial reward
4. is balanced and comprehensive
5. possesses clinical relevance and clarity of presentation

The most common method used by the RACGP in assessing applications for endorsement is the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument. The Agree II Instrument provides a framework for assessing guidelines, handbooks and various other resources.

In addition to the criteria noted above, organisations applying for endorsement of guidelines and similar resources, need to provide:

1. documentation evidencing a "strongly recommend" result by self-assessment utilising the Agree II Instrument
2. appropriate Guideline Development Material establishing credibility of the Guidelines
3. particulars of the extent, if any, to which general practitioners have been involved in development of the Guidelines
4. an outline of the strategy for dissemination and implementation of the Guidelines in general practice
5. the extent (if any) to which the Guidelines will have national relevance.

More broadly products must:

1. possess inherent quality and integrity of design and/or manufacture
2. possess an acceptable degree of consistency in performance generally considered acceptable in the market-place for Products of that nature in accordance with its intended purpose or outcome
3. be legally and environmentally compliant, safe, clearly labelled and, if appropriate, accompanied with clear instructions as to use, restrictions or limitations
4. accord with any applicable standards
5. be relevant to the conduct of general practice or otherwise "add value" for general practitioners or the College
6. be promoted, marketed and offered by reputable and solvent entities possessing ethics, integrity, philosophy and image consistent with those of the College
7. complement and not compete with existing or proposed College activities or Products
8. not unreasonably undermine or conflict with the intent or purpose of any Products which are the subject of a current Endorsement by the College; and
9. accord with the College's mission, purpose and strategic direction.

Application for Endorsement

Organisations wishing to apply for endorsement will need to contact the Representatives and Endorsements Coordinator to acquire an application form.

Timescales

The process of endorsement can be time consuming. Organisations submitting guidelines or clinical material for endorsement should wherever possible specify a deadline and allow a minimum of 12 weeks from the date of submission.

Contact and Enquiries

Representatives and Endorsements Coordinator
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Email: reps&endorsements@racgp.org.au
Phone: 03 8699 0479