Publication Characteristics

Practice Guideline

Work consisting of a set of directions or principles to assist the health care practitioner with patient care decisions about appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic, or other clinical procedures for specific clinical circumstances. Practice guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, organizations such as professional societies or governing boards, or by the convening of expert panels. They can provide a foundation for assessing and evaluating the quality and effectiveness of health care in terms of measuring improved health, reduction of variation in services or procedures performed, and reduction of variation in outcomes of health care delivered.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Work consisting of a set of directions or principles to assist the health care practitioner with patient care decisions about appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic, or other clinical procedures for specific clinical circumstances. Practice guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, organizations such as professional societies or governing boards, or by the convening of expert panels. They can provide a foundation for assessing and evaluating the quality and effectiveness of health care in terms of measuring improved health, reduction of variation in services or procedures performed, and reduction of variation in outcomes of health care delivered.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

6 entry terms
  • Clinical Guideline
  • Clinical Guidelines
  • Clinical Practice Guideline
  • Intervention Guideline
  • Therapeutic Guideline
  • Treatment Guideline

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

this heading is used as a Publication Type; for original specific guidelines related to healthcare; a different heading PRACTICE GUIDELINES AS TOPIC is used for general design, methodology, economics, etc of practice guidelines

MeSH Record

History Note

2008(1992)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Practice Guideline. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D017065. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D017065
  2. Practice Guideline. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_guideline
  3. Practice Guideline. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q878041