Clinical practice guidelines, which are increasingly being used in health care, are seen by many as a potential solution to reduce inappropriate variations in care. Guidelines should be evidenced-based as well as based upon explicit criteria to ensure consensus regarding their internal validity.
However, it must be remembered that the use of guidelines must always be in the context of a health care provider's clinical judgment in the care of a particular patient. For that reason, the guidelines may be viewed as an educational tool analogous to textbooks and journals, but in a more user-friendly tone.
