EBP: Clinical Practice Guidelines

Clinical Practice Guidelines

• Systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific circumstances
• Guidelines support decision-making in patient care, based on a systematic review of clinical evidence

Benefits of Clinical Guidelines

• Improve clinical outcomes
• Reduce variability in clinical practice
• Increase use of known effective interventions
• Provide greater cost-effectiveness
• Increase transparency of evidence to justify interventions
• Legitimize profession in eyes of external stakeholders

Importance of Clinical Guidelines for Physiotherapists

• Provide quick access to synthesis of evidence
• Give clinicians direct access to the knowledge-base of experts
• Allow self-assessment of current practice
• Assist with developing direction of future clinical research

Clinical Guidelines and Systematic Reviews

• Systematic reviews find, appraise, and synthesize relevant research, usually answering a single clinical question
• Clinical guidelines answer a series of questions to help patients and physical therapists make decisions about a range of interventions or a package of care
• Clinical guideline developers review and summarize available evidence, and formulate recommendations for practice

Need for Clinical Guidelines

• High-quality clinical guidelines help determine which study outcomes are reliable to apply in practice
• Implementation of clinical guidelines provides more consistent and effective care for patients
• Clinical guidelines provide an important resource for patients, helping them understand their condition and treatment options

Finding Clinical Guidelines

• One of the best places to look is PEDro, a database of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines in physical therapy

Trusting Clinical Guidelines

• Two studies: Shaneyfelt et al (1999) and Grilli's et al (2000) on clinical guidelines published by specialist societies and other organizations
• Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE) collaboration (2003)

AGREE Domains

• Scope and purpose: Clinical questions covered by the guidelines are specifically described, and the patient to whom the guidelines apply are specifically described
• Stakeholder Involvement: Guidelines development group includes individuals from all relevant professional groups, patient views and preferences are sought, and target users of the guidelines are clearly defined

Learn about clinical practice guidelines, their definition, and benefits in supporting healthcare decision-making processes. Based on systematic reviews of clinical evidence, guidelines aid in evidence-based care.