Guidelines for clinical practice: development, dissemination and implementation.
Clinical guidelines are one of the most promising and effective advances for defining and improving the quality of care. However, their development, dissemination and implementation in practice are rarely straightforward. Within nursing practice, guidelines have the potential to ensure the clinical application of research findings, thus ensuring that the profession rejects ineffective practices while employing those shown to work. Nevertheless, the benefits and limitations of clinical guidelines should be carefully considered by practitioners, managers and consumers of health care alike.
Miller
Morven
M
Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Cancer Care Research Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK. morven.miller@stir.ac.uk
Kearney
Nora
N
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005544:Forecasting; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D009729:Nursing / Q000592:standards; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D006113:United Kingdom