title: The development, implementation and evaluation of clinical practice guidelines in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: a systematic review of literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to examine and describe the current situation in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries regarding the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical practice guidelines (CPG). The objectives were to describe from where the studies originated, what the clinical focus was of each study and examine the methodology and the status of each study (i.e. development, dissemination, implementation and evaluation).
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of literature - two stages: stage 1: screening through an abstract review, followed by independent adjudicator; stage 2: detailed assessment and classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Considering the widespread acceptance that CPG's are useful and effective tools for quality improvement in health care, it is worth noting that relatively few studies have been conducted in the GCC region that examine CPG. Furthermore, the reviewers found that the quality of the research methods used could be improved. The majority of the studies that were conducted evaluated the effects of guidelines and focused on the 'lifestyle diseases', in particular diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is also worth noting that there has been a steady increase in the number of publications over the 10 years period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More attention needs to be given to developing, disseminating, implementing and evaluating CPG's in the GCC region in order to improve the quality and safety of health care.
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Quality, Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.|Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koornneef
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Dutch Health Care Inspectorate, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robben
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Cother
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hajat
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.|Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Azhar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design
keywords: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG); Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); systematic review