Pre-hospital clinical practice guidelines – Where are we now ?

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been a cornerstone of quality medical practice for over 30 years. CPGs have previously been defined as systematically-developed evidence-based recommendations for patients and practitioner decisions.1 The definition was updated in 2011 to emphasise the essential methodological component: ‘‘Clinical guidelines are statements that include recommendations intended to optimise patient care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options”.2 CPGs are thus documents that should be based on synthesis of the best available evidence, presented as clear and unambiguous recommendations for managers, policy-makers and clinicians.