Modifications made throughout the CPG development process were made in accordance with the evidence. B. Summary of Patient Focus Group Methods and Findings When developing a CPG, consideration should be given to the values of the patients who are primarily impacted.[11,12] Patients bring perspectives, values, and preferences that often vary from those of providers. Focus groups can help collect qualitative data on the perspectives of patients. As part of the effort to update this CPG, VA and DoD Leadership held a patient focus group on March 19, 2019, at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. The aim of the focus group was to elicit patient perspectives on a set of topics related to their dyslipidemia. The patient focus group comprised a convenience sample of three people. The Work Group acknowledges this sample is not representative of all patients within the VA and DoD healthcare systems and, thus, findings are not generalizable and did not comprise evidence. For more information on the patient focus group and its key concepts, see Appendix E. C. Conflicts of Interest The project team was required to submit disclosure statements to reveal any areas of potential conflict of interest (COI) in the past 24 months. Verbal affirmations of no COI were further obtained as necessary during meetings throughout the guideline development process. The project team was also subject to random web-based surveillance (e.g., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services open payments or ProPublica). No COIs were identified for the Champions or Work Group. If a project team member had reported a COI (actual or potential), then it would have been reported to the VA and DoD program offices. 