Critiquing Clinical Practice Guidelines

Guidelines make explicit recommendations and are based upon some evidence. Evaluation includes appraisal of the following items (Hanson, Hoss, & Wesorick, 2008; Lucas & Fulmer, 2003; Hayward, Wilson et al. 1995; Brown, 1999):

• The guideline specificity and population to whom it will be applicable.
• All relevant options and outcomes are specified with decision-making points apparent.
• Process to identify, select, and combine evidence is described and makes sense.
• Includes most recent findings (e.g., is current).
• Process of peer review and evaluation specified.
• Recommendations are practical and clinically relevant.
• Recommendations are strong (strength of evidence described).
• Guideline responds to a clinical problem.
• Recommendations are applicable to patients in your current setting.
• Use of recommendations would lead to identifiable outcomes that could be measured.

Continue to Step 3.7 - Critiquing a Quality Improvement Report