Clinical practice guidelines: to what end?
The move to develop clinical practice guidelines in Australia is gaining momentum as part of a national approach to improving the quality of clinical practice. The National Health and Medical Research Council has published a "guidelines for guidelines". While it has also produced guidelines for nine specific clinical topics, it is now passing this role to professional organisations, such as clinical colleges and learned societies, and reverting to an overseeing, facilitating and credentialling role.
Smallwood
R A
RA
National Health and Medical Research Council, Canberra, ACT. smallwd@austin.unimelb.edu.au
Lapsley
H M
HM
D001315:Australia; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D016730:Program Development