Proposed New Definitions of Practice Guidelines for Health and Health Care

Area of Science:

• Health policy and systems research
• Evidence-based practice
• Health communication

Background:

• Traditional Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) primarily focus on physician-led care.
• The scope of health recommendations has expanded to include non-physician professionals and the general public.
• Existing terminology for health-related recommendations lacks clarity and nuance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a revised framework for classifying health-related guidelines.
• To differentiate between Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), Health Care Guidelines (HcGs), and Health Guidelines (HGs).
• To clarify terminology and improve the usability of evidence-based recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis and proposal of a new classification framework.
• Distinction between comprehensive "guidelines" and targeted "guidance."
• Discussion of "consensus statements" as an alternative to systematic reviews.

Main Results:

• A three-tiered classification system: CPGs (physician-led), HcGs (non-physician professional-led), and HGs (public-led).
• Clear definitions distinguishing between guidelines and guidance.
• Recognition of consensus statements for specific contexts.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework enhances clarity and usability of health recommendations.
• This classification supports a whole-of-society approach to health and evidence-based practices.
• Adoption of this framework aligns with global health initiatives for integrated primary care.