title: [Is reaching consensus on the development of guidelines nonsense?].
abstract: Cultural background influences the development of guidelines. In Germany, classifications exist from S1 (low level of evidence, no structured process of consensus finding) up to S3 (high level of evidence, consensus finding by a representative body). Consensus is indispensable in the guideline development process because every step is influenced by preferences and values, from the choice of output and outcome criteria to the role of pathophysiological models in the assessment of new therapies. A structured process of consensus finding increases transparency. Different models of consensus finding are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Informationsverarbeitung, Universität Tübingen. Hans-Konrad.Selbmann@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Hans-Konrad
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Selbmann
mesh_terms: D032921:Consensus; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome