Quality of clinical guidelines: It matters as it impacts patient care

Abstract

Clinical guidelines are of vital importance in providing healthcare professionals with updated evidence-based recommendations eventually aiming to improve patient care and outcomes. Nonetheless, guidelines often lack evidence or transparency in how evidence was interpreted and graded. Historically, the development of guidelines was done in GOBSAT -('Good old men sitting around the table') style by collating data from literature mixed with experience-based opinions. These guidelines often fail to address some of the essential and pivotal factors that are fundamental to high-quality guidelines. In addition, they often lack applicability, practicality, and the outcomes that really matter to patients.