Guidelines: is bigger better? A review of SIGN guidelines.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To quantify and analyse the quality of evidence that is presented in national guidelines.

Setting

Levels of evidence used in all the current valid recommendations in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) guidelines were reviewed and statistically analysed.

Outcome measures

The proportion of level D evidence used in each guideline and a statistical analysis.

Method

Data were collected from published guidelines available online to the public. SIGN methodology entails a professional group selected by a national organisation to develop each of these guidelines. Statistical analysis of the relationship between the number of guideline recommendations and the quality of evidence used in its recommendations was performed.

Result

The pr

SUBMITTER: Baird AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3918980 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature