EAUN Guidelines updates

Grounded in the latest scientific evidence, the EAUN guidelines offer recommendations on best practices for diagnosing, treating, and managing urological conditions. The guidelines are developed and updated by panels of experts in the field comprised of nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.

To comprehensively support the guideline development process, the EAUN Board established a dedicated guideline subgroup, led by two co-chairs. This subgroup plays a pivotal role in identifying guidelines due for revision or creation, initiating guideline development, and providing overall support to the guideline panels.

The subgroup’s guidance to the guideline panel members, coupled with its logistical support, ensures the timely and effective development and updating of evidence-based guidelines.

The EAUN Guideline Manual
The EAUN Guideline Manual, originally published in 2013, has been recently updated by the EAUN Board guideline subgroup to reflect the latest developments and best practices in guideline methodology.

The EAUN Guideline Manual is an essential tool for ensuring a standardised development and updating process using a rigorous and transparent approach.

The manual covers topics such as:

  • The roles and responsibilities of all persons involved in developing and updating guidelines
  • The methodology and process of conducting a systematic literature review, appraising evidence quality, formulating recommendations, and grading evidence strength
  • The ethical principles and standards associated with guideline development

Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate – The EAUN’s 2019 guideline on transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate will not be updated due to advances in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. The European Association of Urology now recommends the transperineal approach for prostate biopsy over the transrectal approach, citing lower infection and bleeding risks, and higher accuracy and detection rates. A new guideline is needed to guide clinicians performing and caring for men undergoing transperineal prostate biopsies.

The EAUN Guideline subgroup is developing a strategy for this new guideline – Intravesical instillation with mitomycin C or bacillus Calmette-Guérin in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The 2015 guideline on intravesical instillation with mitomycin C or BCG in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer provides comprehensive recommendations on administering intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The guideline covers various aspects from the use of intravesical agents to the management of instillation-related complications. An update for this guideline is planned, with a panel of experts already formed and undergoing training. The update process is expected to start in 2024 and finish in 2025.

Catheterisation guidelines
The EAUN produced two catheterisation guidelines: “Catheterisation – Indwelling catheters in adults – Urethral and Suprapubic” and “Catheterisation – Urethral intermittent in adults”. These two guidelines were published in 2012 and 2013 respectively, and are now in the final stages of being updated.

The intermittent catheterisation guidelines will be launched at the 24th International Meeting of the European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN24) in Paris. You are invited to attend EAUN24 and learn more about these guidelines on common and important aspects of urinary catheter management. The updated versions will include new and relevant evidence on topics such as:

  • The indications, contraindications, benefits, and risks of different types of catheters
  • The selection and handling of catheters
  • The prevention, identification, and management of catheter-related complications
  • The education, support, and empowerment of patients and caregivers

Are you interested in joining a guideline panel?
The EAUN Board is committed to maintaining contemporary evidence-based guidelines for its members, and one of its strategic goals is to increase its capacity to do so. The EAUN has three published guidelines listed below that need to be updated. With the additional resources, the core aim is to further the updating of the following three guidelines in due course:

  • Incontinent Urostomy (published in 2009)
  • Continent Urinary Diversion (published in 2010)
  • Male external catheters in adults – Urinary catheter management (published in 2016)

Guidelines are produced through educational grants of companies. While the EAUN continues to seek collaboration with sponsors to ensure the ongoing development and production of evidence-based guidelines for their members, it is important to note that sponsors have no influence over the process. The guidelines are developed independently, free from commercial bias, ensuring the highest standard of evidence-based practice.

The EAUN Board wholeheartedly endorses the use of evidence-based guidelines as essential tools for urology nurses to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to their patients.

Members of the EAUN receive frequent newsletters encouraging them to join and participate in a guideline panel. Members and non-members can state their interest and send feedback by contacting the EAUN via e-mail (eaun@uroweb.org).

Robert McConkey, MSc, ANP, EAUN Board Member Guideline Subgroup Co-chair, Galway (IE)

Franziska Geese, MScN, EAUN Board Member Guideline Subgroup Co-chair, Berne (CH)