Coding frequency table and key quotes.

Essential medicine lists (EMLs) are important medicine prioritization tools used by the World Health Organization (WHO) EML and over 130 countries. The criteria used by WHO’s Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines has parallels to the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks. In this study, we explored the EtD frameworks and a visual abstract as adjunctive tools to strengthen the integrate evidence and improve the transparency of decisions of EML applications. We conducted user-experience testing interviews of key EML stakeholders using Morville’s honeycomb model. Interviews explored multifaceted dimensions (e.g., usability) on two EML applications for the 2021 WHO EML–long-acting insulin analogues for diabetes and immune checkpoint inhibitors for lung cancer. Using a pre-determined coding framework and thematic analysis we iteratively improved both the EtD framework and the visual abstract. We coded the transcripts of 17 interviews with 13 respondents in 103 locations of the interview texts across all dimensions of the user-experience honeycomb. Respondents felt the EtD framework and visual abstract presented complementary useful and findable adjuncts to the traditional EML application. They felt this would increase transparency and efficiency in evidence assessed by EML committees. As EtD frameworks are also used in health practice guidelines, including those by the WHO, respondents articulated that the adoption of the EtD by EML applications represents a tangible mechanism to align EMLs and guidelines, decrease duplication of work and improve coordination. Improvements were made to clarify instructions for the EtD and visual abstract, and to refine the design and content included. ‘Availability’ was added as an additional criterion for EML applications to highlight this criterion in alignment with WHO EML criteria. EtD frameworks and visual abstracts present additional important tools to communicate evidence and support decision-criteria in EML applications, which have global health impact. Access to essential medicines is important for achieving universal health coverage, and the development of essential medicine lists should be as evidence-based and trustworthy as possible.</div

Key findings grouped by morville honeycomb model of user experience.

This figure shows dimensions of the Morville user-experience honeycomb model and key themes identified under each through thematic analysis. The grey are the ‘use’ dimensions, light red are the ‘think’ dimensions and dark red ‘feel’ dimensions in the user-experience honeycomb model. Notably this includes that the EtD framework and visual abstract were found to be visually useful, more credibly incorporate evidence and useful for expert committee reviews and discussions.</p

User-experience interview respondent characteristics (see also S5 Appendix).

User-experience interview respondent characteristics (see also S5 Appendix).</p

EtD for EML decision-criteria, descriptions and judgements.

EtD for EML decision-criteria, descriptions and judgements.</p

Evidence to decision framework “should anti-PD1 immune-checkpoint inhibitors vs. chemotherapy be used for “non-oncogene- addicted” (EGFR, ALK, and ROS1 wild type).

locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?”. (PDF)</p

Evidence to decision framework “should long-acting insulin analogs vs. human insulin be used for diabetes?”.

Evidence to decision framework “should long-acting insulin analogs vs. human insulin be used for diabetes?”.</p

COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting qualitative research) reporting checklist.

COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting qualitative research) reporting checklist.</p

Respondent characteristics.

Essential medicine lists (EMLs) are important medicine prioritization tools used by the World Health Organization (WHO) EML and over 130 countries. The criteria used by WHO’s Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines has parallels to the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks. In this study, we explored the EtD frameworks and a visual abstract as adjunctive tools to strengthen the integrate evidence and improve the transparency of decisions of EML applications. We conducted user-experience testing interviews of key EML stakeholders using Morville’s honeycomb model. Interviews explored multifaceted dimensions (e.g., usability) on two EML applications for the 2021 WHO EML–long-acting insulin analogues for diabetes and immune checkpoint inhibitors for lung cancer. Using a pre-determined coding framework and thematic analysis we iteratively improved both the EtD framework and the visual abstract. We coded the transcripts of 17 interviews with 13 respondents in 103 locations of the interview texts across all dimensions of the user-experience honeycomb. Respondents felt the EtD framework and visual abstract presented complementary useful and findable adjuncts to the traditional EML application. They felt this would increase transparency and efficiency in evidence assessed by EML committees. As EtD frameworks are also used in health practice guidelines, including those by the WHO, respondents articulated that the adoption of the EtD by EML applications represents a tangible mechanism to align EMLs and guidelines, decrease duplication of work and improve coordination. Improvements were made to clarify instructions for the EtD and visual abstract, and to refine the design and content included. ‘Availability’ was added as an additional criterion for EML applications to highlight this criterion in alignment with WHO EML criteria. EtD frameworks and visual abstracts present additional important tools to communicate evidence and support decision-criteria in EML applications, which have global health impact. Access to essential medicines is important for achieving universal health coverage, and the development of essential medicine lists should be as evidence-based and trustworthy as possible.</div

Consent and semi-structured, open-ended UX interview guide.

Consent and semi-structured, open-ended UX interview guide.</p

Decision criteria for guideline EtDs and mapping onto EML decision criteria [4].

This figure visualizes the decision criteria for guideline evidence-to-decision processes and EML applications. Solid lines draw connections between EtD criteria and EML criteria. Dashed lines highlight decision criteria, for a guideline this is a recommendation (strong or conditional), for an EML this is a listing decision. Listing decisions can be to add or remove a medicine from the EML.</p