Clinical practice guidelines

Question 1

Guidelines definition

Answer 1

Relate to broader systems, such as those found in primary care (e.g. water or air quality, food security, incident reporting
and investigation, etc.) and are generally developed and used by policy-makers, organisations, funders or regulatory authorities

Question 2

Clinical practice guidelines definition

Answer 2

Relate to clinical matters, generally dealing with clinical conditions or symptoms, and are typically intended for use by health
care providers and clinic managers. They can include best-practice statements for any one or combination of concerns regarding
screening, diagnosis, management or monitoring

Question 3

Protocol definition

Answer 3

Rules / instructions about how to do a particular process explicitly, and without error

Question 4

Care pathways definition

Answer 4

A series of evidence-informed steps, which can involve a MDT at various care levels (i.e. primary, secondary), which should underpin the journey of care of patients with a particular diagnosis

Question 5

What does a guideline contain?

Answer 5

• key priorities for implementation
• an algorithm of the care pathway (optional)
• a list of all the recommendations
• a list of all the research recommendations
• a list of the other versions of the guideline
• if the guideline is an update

Question 6

What is shared decision making?

Answer 6

Joint process in which a healthcare professional works together
with a person to reach a decision about care.
It involves choosing tests and treatments based both on evidence and on the person’s individual preferences, beliefs and values.
Makes sure the person understands the risks, benefits and possible consequences of different options through discussion and information sharing.