title: Evaluation of the quality of clinical guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation: a critical review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of clinical guidelines (CGs) for cardiac rehabilitation and to critically appraise exercise-related recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  critical review.
  
  
  METHODS
  main search engines, databases, clearinghouses, and guideline developers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included evidence-based CGs specific to cardiac rehabilitation with recommendations for the period after diagnosis of myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome. Clinical guidelines needed to include an exercise component and at least 1 additional component in the cardiac rehabilitation program. Data extraction and appraisal: We evaluated the quality of GCs, using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Instrument, second version. Three reviewers independently extracted data, appraised the quality of included CGs, and resolved disagreements by consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine guidelines were included. The average scores were 79.84%, 59.88%, 55.56%, 85.18%, 48.92%, and 56.79% for the domains of scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity and presentation, applicability, and editorial independence, respectively. The majority of guidelines recommended low- to moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance exercises, with moderate variability in the frequency and duration of sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical guidelines consistently recommended aerobic and resistance exercises. Overall, our critical review showed that the quality of CGs was at least moderate, with the greatest deficiencies being related to applicability and rigor of development domains.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Centre of Excellence CIGES, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Araucania, Chile (Ms Serón and Drs Lanas and Ríos); Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB-Sant Pau), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain (Dr Bonfill); and Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB-Sant Pau), Sant Pau Hospital, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain (Dr Alonso-Coello).
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Serón
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Lanas
authors: Eddy
authors: E
authors: Ríos
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Bonfill
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Alonso-Coello
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*