title: The Global Rating Scale complements the AGREE II in advancing the quality of practice guidelines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of a four-item Global Rating Scale (GRS) that could be used in place of the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II).
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed four-factor design was used (User Type, Evaluation Type, Clinical Topic, Guideline). Participants were asked to read and evaluate a guideline using both the AGREE II draft and GRS or GRS only and to complete a series of questions regarding overall guideline quality, adoption, utility, and acceptability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One GRS item varied as a function of User Type. Each item was a significant predictor of participants' outcome measures. All items were rated as useful by stakeholders. The GRS rating scores, outcome measures, and usefulness scores did not vary between the two Evaluation Type conditions. Correlations between the GRS and the outcome measures were stronger compared with those between the AGREE II draft and these measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the GRS is less sensitive than the AGREE II in detecting differences in guideline quality as a function of User Type, its items did predict important outcome measures related to guideline adoption. The GRS may play a role in guideline evaluation, although further study is warranted.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Department of Oncology, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. mbrouwer@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Melissa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: Michelle E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kho
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Browman
authors.forename: Jako S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Burgers
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cluzeau
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feder
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fervers
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimshaw
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Littlejohns
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makarski
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zitzelsberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D058996:Quality Improvement