Practice guidelines are systematically developed
statements to assist practitioners and patients in making decisions about
appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. [Institute of
Medicine Committee to Advise the Public Health Service on Clinical Practice
Guidelines, 1990]
Attributes of good guidelines include validity,
reliability, reproducibility, clinical applicability, clinical flexibility,
clarity, multidisciplinary process, review of evidence, and documentation.
[Institute of Medicine Committee to Advise the Public Health Service on Clinical
Practice Guidelines, 1990]