Clinical Tools: Clinical Practice Guidelines

The standard definition of Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is that of Field and Lohr [1990]: "systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific circumstances".

The following are web resources to access different types of clinical practice guidelines:

• Guidelines and Measures webpage from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
• Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) lists practice guidelines by categories such as antimicrobial and infections.
• American Psychiatric Association (APA) Practice Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
• Guidelines from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Infobase is a database of evidence-based Canadian clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).
• Clinical practice guidelines developed by Department of Veteran Affairs/Department of Defense.
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's recommendations for primary care practices.
• Guidance list from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) are posted with the latest update date and version number.
• Clinical Policies and Practice Management from American College of Emergency Medicine.
• American College of Physicians (ACP) develops three different types of clinical recommendations: Clinical Practice Guidelines, Clinical Guidance Statements, and Best Practice Advice.
• Various Clinical Guides from New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute.
• Clinical guidelines of various topics are listed on American Academy of Family Physicians website.
• Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
• Patient Safety & Quality: Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses
• ECRI Guidelines Trust is a web-based repository of current, evidence -based guidelines. Account registration required (free).