Introduction to Clinical Practice Guidelines

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) Clinical practice guidelines consist of recommendations developed to support specific clinical encounters. Their actionable messages intend to guideGuide best practice. CPGs are distinct from clinical pathways. Beyond clinicians and patients, CPGs can influence policy, identify limitations in a body of researchResearch, guide resources, and define quality indicators. They have the potential to decrease unwanted variation in practice, and better inform patients; their implementation likely produces improved overall outcomesOutcomes. CPGs are becoming more popular and integrated to practice, including surgery. Tools exist to guideGuide their applications, and it is important that surgeons are familiar with their appraisalAppraisal. This chapter provides a guide to readers on evaluating a clinical practice guidelineClinical practice guidelines in surgery.