Overview of the IDEAL Framework

The IDEAL (Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term study) framework was developed to provide a structured, staged approach to evaluating surgical innovations. It acknowledges the unique nature of surgical interventions and offers a roadmap for rigorous, stepwise evaluation that parallels the phases of drug trials but is tailored to the needs of surgery

This section provides an overview of the IDEAL Framework, with a brief introduction to why it is needed from Professor Peter McCulloch:

The IDEAL Framework

Click on each of the stages below to find out more and to obtain further resources

• The IDEAL Flowchart and Guidebook will help you identify the IDEAL Stage relevant to you, and assess published studies.
• For more detailed information, move on to the IDEAL Recommendations, Proposals and 2019 Update.

Relevant Publications

McCulloch, P., Altman, D.G., Campbell, W.B., Flum, D.R., Glasziou, P., Marshall, J.C. and Nicholl, J., 2009. No surgical innovation without evaluation: the IDEAL recommendations. The Lancet, 374(9695), pp.1105-1112.

Sedrakyan, A., Campbell, B., Merino, J.G., Kuntz, R., Hirst, A. and McCulloch, P., 2016. IDEAL-D: a rational framework for evaluating and regulating the use of medical devices. BMJ, 353.

Hirst, A., Philippou, Y., Blazeby, J., Campbell, B., Campbell, M., Feinberg, J., Rovers, M., Blencowe, N., Pennell, C., Quinn, T. and Rogers, W., 2019. No surgical innovation without evaluation: evolution and further development of the IDEAL framework and recommendations. Annals of surgery, 269(2), pp.211-220.

Sood, A., Hemal, A.K., Assimos, D.G., Peabody, J.O., Menon, M. and Ghani, K.R., 2016. Robotic anatrophic nephrolithotomy utilizing near-infrared fluorescence image-guidance: idea, development, exploration, assessment, and long-term monitoring (IDEAL) stage 0 animal model study. Urology, 94, pp.117-122.