ICUD | Planning a Consultation

Planning a Consultation

Consultation Year Minus 2

2 years before a planned consultation the ICUD Steering Committee appoint a Chairperson(s) for the Consultation, and decide the venue for that Consultation
The Chair(s) of the Consultation, in discussion with the Steering Committee

defines the committee structure, each committee having a defined role, for example epidemiology or economics
chooses a Chair, and possibly a co-chair for each committee. The ICUD invites these individuals to Chair the relevant committee
with the Committee Chairs, develops each committee, usually with 4-8 members, of the highest academic credentials and properly representing all relevant specialities and geographical areas of the world

Consultation Year Minus 1

1 year before the Consultation the ICUD invites the committee members to join specified committees
The Chair of the Committee

ensures that the Chairs / committee members are fully involved and understand the principles of providing an evidence based report from each Committee, according to the ICUD-EBM paper (available here)
each report for each Committee will be a chapter in the book of the Consultation. A stated search strategy leads to a review of the literature being given levels of evidence. The levels of evidence allow grades of recommendation to be given to treatments and sometimes to methods of assessment.
ensures that the committee work is discussed between members
ensures that each committee arranges to meet, usually at the AUA, EAU or SIU meetings to plan their chapter and Consultation contribution
ensures that each committee arrives at the Consultation with a near final draft of their committee report
ensures that the first draft is edited by a native English speaker (normally one of the Committee members if Chair is non native English speaker)

The Specific Programme at an ICUD Consultation

Pre-consultation Committee meetings are held the day before the Consultation proper

the formal draft is reviewed
the PowerPoint presentation of the Chair to the Consultation is planned
any outstanding issues are resolved

Each Committee Chair gives a 30-45 minute presentation, on behalf of his/her committee to the Consultation which details

the main findings of that Committee. The audience is invited to question the Committee and due note is taken of valid criticisms of the work.

The Consultation chair gives a 30-45 min presentation to the plenary session of the host meeting, detailing the principle conclusions of the Consultation

The Scientific Committee of the Consultation meets on the day after the Consultation to produce its report which includes

Recommendations on the investigation and management of the patient group and any relevant sub-groups for example, incontinence in children and bladder pain syndrome, as in the Consultation on Incontinence (2009).

Publishing the findings from an ICUD Consultation

Three types of publications result from ICUD Consultations:

1. The Report of the Scientific Committee: the Scientific Committee consists of the Chair and Co Chairs of the Consultations and the Chairs of each committee. Report should be published in a peer reviewed journal and if brief at the back of the book of the Consultation

2. Book from the Consultation: these books are highly appreciated and often become regarded as the “bible” for that subject as

The book as an ebook, with or without a paper version, is produced very shortly after the Consultation, see timetable below
Every chapter is a committee report and should conclude with a prioritised list of research studies, to solve outstanding basic research and clinical questions
Each chapter has a stated search strategy and is fully referenced
The ICUD aims to have all its books freely available, from the publisher (via the host association, usually the EAU or SIU), and on the ICUD website.

3. Papers, derived from aspects/topics from the Consultation, can be submitted to journals. This ensures that the hard work of the Committee members is fully disseminated to the Scientific Community. Papers should not be published within 6 months of the publication date of the book for the consultation.