When searching databases for guidelines the following keywords may prove helpful: Standards, Protocols, Consensus Documents, Algorithms, Decision Support Systems, Practice Guidelines.
There are many journal articles on finding, evaluating and using practice guidelines, some of which are available on line from the GIMBE site listed below. Helpful for the compilation of much of this list is "How to find out about existing guidelines" by Dr. Mark Charny. Guidelines in Practice, May 1999, Vol 2.
ADEPT
Becoming ADEPT : (Applying Diagnosis, Etiology, Prognosis & Therapy methodological filters to retrieving the evidence)A module on clinical guidelines for a workshop and distance learning based programme created for South Thames Regional Library Service by Andrew Booth
American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Guidelines
These guidelines are are the results of research projects and cover various aspects of cardiology.
At a Glance
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's website defining the Medical Standards of fitness to drive.
BIOME
Search here for "Guidelines" to bring up 200+ quality guidelines, all of which have met BIOME's critical evaluation standards.
Canadian Medical Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Infobase
An index to guidelines. The full-text of many can be downloaded, others have abstracts available.The clinical practice guidelines in this collection were produced or endorsed in Canada by a national, provincial or territorial medical or health organization, professional society, government agency or expert panel.
CancerBACUP Guidelines for Doctors
CancerBACUP aims to provide information and support for patients with Cancer and their families.The foremost provider of Cancer information in the UK. Most of the UK treatment guidelines are not yet on line. Details are provide
as to who has produced them and when, their purpose and how they can be
obtained.
Clinical Guidelines
Quick access to many (mainly) UK guidelines covering general sources, overseas guidelines, speciality guidelines - Cardiology, Dermatology, ENT, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Genitourology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Physiotherapy, Psychiatry, Respitatory, Rheumatology, Sugery and Urology.
Dermatology Guidelines for Practitioners and Patients
Produced by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust. Clearly presented and covering some 30 topics from acne to viral infections. Includes patient information sheets.
eBMJ Collected Resources: Guidelines
Collected resources on evidence-based practice guidelines, from the online British Medical Journal. eBMJ collections list the most recent articles from the BMJ and other online journals within the BMJ Publishing Group, within a specific subject or specialty.Links are provided to the full text of the document. Links are also provided to related collections, journals, books or reviews.
eGuidelines
The online edition of Guidelines and Guidelines in Practice. eGuidelines may be accessed free of charge once you have registered your username and password and contains summaries of primary care guidelines and Guidelines in Practice articles. Access is also provided to CLIP the online database of 1600+ clinical improvement projects (Formerly maintained by NICE). eGuidelines is only available to healthcare professionals. Members of the general public should go to
Healthnet UK a partner site developed for patients, their families and carers.
Evidence-Based Medicine Resource Center - Clinical Practice Guidelines
Links to American sources and organisations including an alphabetical listing of guidelines and a subject listing covering AIDS, Allergy & Immunology, Anaesthesiology, Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery, Critical Care, Medicine, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Oncology, Patient Education, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Radiology, Respiratory, Rheumatology and Trauma
GIMBE: Evidence-Based Medicine Italian Group
All references cited are in English. Contains an excellent bibliography of journal articles on practice guidelines with links to the full text
Guidelines - Primary Care - Clinical Practice Guidelines
This site is for primary care providers. Clinical or practice guidelines are "quality-improving strategies". Sackett, DL et al in Evidence-based Medicine define them as "user-friendly statements that bring together the best external evidence and other knowledge necessary for decision-making about a specific health problem."
National Electronic Library for Health (NeLH) Guidelines database
The database currently holds only a few detailed guidelines but is continuously developing. The site acts as an excellent gateway to other sources for clinical guidelines.
National Guideline Clearinghouse
A public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. NGC is sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans.
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence is a Special Health Authority, which was launched in April 1999. The Institute works with the NHS, systematically appraising health interventions, providing guidelines for clinicians and managers on which treatment works best.
National Institute for Health guidelines database(HSTAT)
Developed by the National Library of Medicine Information Technology division. A free electronic resource giving access to full-text documents helpful in healthcare decision making. Includes AHCPR guidelines
New Zealand Guidelines Group
Established by the National Health Committee (NHC) in 1996 as an informal network of expertise and information on guideline development and implementation. The NZGG is currently funded by the Health Funding Authority (HFA). The NZGG is an incorporated society and contracts directly with the HFA to provide oversight of ongoing guidelines activity. The NZGG remains entirely independent.
PRODIGY Guidance
Forms part of the PRODIGY Browser for use on GPs desktops during patient consultations. These 160+ guidelines are current and are validated by the Royal Colleges and the NHSE.
RCN - Clinical Guidelines
A guide to clinical guidelines aimed at nurses, produced by the Royal College of Nursing.It covers what guidelines are, where you can find them, RCN guidelines, and guidelines that the RCN have been involved in. Included is the the first RCN guideline, on the management of patients with venous leg ulcers. This guideline is downloadable in PDF format (requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader software).
SEEK Guidelines
SEEK (Sheffield Evidence for Effectiveness and Knowledge ) provides links to local and national guidelines, as well as to international, national and other local sites which publish, or provide indices to, guidelines.
SIGN Administrative Support Centre (Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh)
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Contains 60+ guidelines covering Cancer | CHD and Stroke | Dentistry | Diabetes | ENT | Mental Health | Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Orthopaedics | Other Vascular Disease | Respiratory Medicine | Sexually Transmitted Diseases | Surgery |
Back to top of this page
Back to Exeter Medical Library Home Page