What kind of information might be included in a clinical practice guideline?

• A. All of the above
• B. Typically written as narrative
• C. Background material and evidence
• D. Ranking of strength of evidence

Answer: (A)

Clinical practice guidelines are meant to summarize current evidence to guide care decisions. They typically include background material that sets the context, defines the clinical question, scope, and population. They present the evidence supporting each recommendation, often drawn from systematic reviews and key studies. They also frequently rate the strength of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations so clinicians can gauge confidence and applicability. While guidelines are commonly written as narrative documents, they may also include tables, summaries, or decision aids to convey the recommendations clearly. Because background information, the evidence it’s based on, and a ranking of how strong that evidence is can all be present, all of the above describes what might be included in a clinical practice guideline.