How to Write a Guideline from Start to Finish, A Handbook for Healthcare Professionals

Guidelines are an integral part of modern health care systems and are used and developed by all health care professionals such as doctors, nurses and therapists. This book will provide a handbook for health professionals on the process of Guidelines preparation and implementation - from start to finish. It will include many real-life examples of each step in the process as illustrated from existing Guidelines. Information will be provided on how to access the extensive literature that is available throughout the world by inclusion of a comprehensive list of important sites - an extremely valuable and time-saving resource. This handbook will become essential reading for all health professionals, whether they are involved in using or developing guidelines, e.g. doctors, nurses, therapists, practice nurses - or for allied health professionals - audit clerks, clinical directors, hospital managers and audit departments - who need an easy-to-read and refer to guide to all aspects of Guidelines.
Key Features

* An all-in-one handbook on the development and implementation of clinical guidelines
* Step-by-step approach
* Includes lots of examples and references to websites and other useful information
* Covers the following key topics:
o An explanation behind the different methodology used with regard to guidelines.
o How to get started, including assembling a guideline development group.
o Forming clinical questions and searching for evidence in the literature.
o Grading the evidence, including explanations of the different systems available.
o Forming recommendations.
o Consensus processes.
o Implementation and dissemination including the use of algorithms, integrated care pathways and audit tools.
o Appraisal tools.
o Economic considerations in guideline development.
o Legal issues.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction, M. Atkinson
Chapter 2. Developing a National Guideline, T. Stephenson
Chapter 3. Developing Local Guidelines, M. Atkinson
Chapter 4. Getting started – or Working Back to Front, R. Bowker
Chapter 5. Forming Clinical Questions, R. Bowker
Chapter 6. Searching for Evidence, R.Bowker
Chapter 7. Critical Appraisal and Building Evidence Tables, R. Bowker
Chapter 8. Consensus Processes, K. Armon
Chapter 9. The Delphi Consensus Process, K. Armon
Chapter 10. Health Economics, H.-R. Douglas
Chapter 11. Making Recommendations, M. Lakhanpaul
Chapter 12. The Audit Package, R. MacFaul
Chapter 13. Appraisal, R. Bowker
Chapter 14. Dissemination and Implementation - or Getting the Message Across, M. Lakhanpaul
Chapter 15. Legal Issues, R. Bowker
Appendix 1: The AGREE Appraisal Instrument
Appendix 2: Care Pathways
Index