(1) Purpose of the guideline is specified | 100 (52) | 100 (17) | 100 (5) | 100 (30) |
(2) Rationale and importance of the guideline are explained | 77 (40) | 100 (17) | 100 (5) | 60 (18) |
(3) Participants in the guideline development process and their areas of expertise are specified | 96 (50) | 100 (17) | 80 (4) | 97 (29) |
(3a) Are the participants multidisciplinary?* | 73 (38) | 100 (17) | 40 (2) | 63 (19) |
(4) Targeted health problem or technology is clearly defined | 100 (52) | 100 (17) | 100 (5) | 100 (30) |
(5) Targeted patient population is specified | 100 (52) | 100 (17) | 100 (5) | 100 (30) |
(6) Principal preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic options available to clinicians and patients are specified | 100 (51)** | 100 (16)** | 100 (5) | 100 (30) |
(7) Method by which the guideline underwent external review is specified | 58 (30) | 100 (17) | 60 (3) | 33 (10) |
(8) Expiration date or date of scheduled review is specified | 29 (15) | 12 (2) | 20 (1) | 40 (12) |
(9) Method for grading or classifying the scientific evidence is specified | 46 (24) | 59 (10) | 40 (2) | 40 (12) |
(10a) Benefits of specific health practices are specified | 100 (52) | 100 (17) | 100 (5) | 100 (30) |
(10b) Harms of specific health practices are specified | 98 (51) | 100 (17) | 80 (4) | 100 (30) |
(11a) Benefits are quantified | 64 (33) | 94 (16) | 100 (5) | 40 (12) |
(11b) Harms are quantified | 64 (33) | 94 (16) | 80 (4) | 43 (13) |
(12) Recommendations are graded according to the strength of evidence | 46 (24) | 82 (14) | 40 (2) | 27 (8) |
(12a) Is there a definition for the strength of evidence they use?* | 46 (24) | 82 (14) | 40 (2) | 27 (8) |
(13) Effect on health care costs from specific health practices is specified | 44 (23) | 94 (16) | 20 (1) | 20 (6) |
(14) Costs are quantified | 37 (19) | 82 (14) | 20 (1) | 13 (4) |
(15) Role of patient preferences is discussed | 60 (31) | 82 (14) | 40 (2) | 50 (15) |
(16) Health outcomes are specified | 100 (52) | 100 (17) | 100 (5) | 100 (30) |
(17) Flexibility in the recommendations is specified | 87 (45) | 100 (17) | 40 (2) | 87 (26) |
(18) Evidence used is identified by citation and referenced | 92 (48) | 100 (17) | 100 (5) | 87 (26) |
(19) Formal methods of combining evidence or expert opinion are used and described | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (1) |
(20) Recommendations are specific and apply to the stated goals of the guideline | 98 (51) | 94 (16) | 100 (5) | 100 (30) |
(21) Role of value judgements used by the guideline developers in making recommendations is discussed | 14 (7) | 6 (1) | 0 (0) | 20 (6) |
(22) Intended audience or users of the guideline are specified | 83 (43) | 94 (16) | 80 (4) | 77 (23) |
(23) Method of identifying evidence is specified | 54 (28) | 100 (17) | 60 (3) | 27 (8) |
(23a) Was there a systematic review of the evidence?* | 52 (27) | 100 (17) | 60 (3) | 23 (7) |
(24) Time period from which evidence is reviewed is specified | 39 (20) | 47 (8) | 60 (3) | 30 (9) |
(25) Method of data extraction is specified | 21 (11) | 47 (8) | 20 (1) | 7 (2) |