title: Development and implementation of guidelines in neurosurgery.
abstract: Although it is intuitive that any neurosurgeon would seek to consistently apply the best available evidence to patient management, the application of evidence-based medicine (EBM) principles and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) remains variable. This article reviews the origin and process of EBM, and the development, assessment, and applicability of EBM and CPGs in neurosurgical care, aiming to demonstrate that CPGs are one of the valid available options that exist to improve quality of care. CPGs are not intended to define the standard of care but to compile dynamic advisory statements, which need to be updated as new evidence emerges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, 399 Bathurst Street, Suite 4W-449, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada. Electronic address: michael.fehlings@uhn.on.ca.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Fehlings
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, WW 4-427, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
authors.forename: Anick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nater
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
keywords: Best practice; Clinical practice guidelines; Evidence-based medicine; Guidelines; Implantation research; Knowledge translation; Neurosurgery; Quality improvement