Guideline Quality and Guideline Content: Are They Related?

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) challenges clinicians and laboratory professionals to make rational decisions in healthcare. Clinical practice guidelines embody the prin-ciples of EBM in making options and choices explicit, considering the scientific evidence and resources avail-able (1). The evidence is often limited or controversial, however, and resources differ among countries and re-gions. Therefore, the translation of research evidence into recommendations for clinical practice is not straightfor-ward. Judgment beyond the evidence is necessary, taking into consideration the balance between benefits and harms and risks, patients ’ views and preferences, and potential organizational and financial barriers (2). Ad-dressing these issues requires careful discussions within a working group that includes representatives from al