Manual for ACC/AHA Guideline Writing Committees

Methodologies and Policies from the ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Section I: Overview of Methodology and Purpose of the Manual

Section II: Tools and Methods for Creating Guidelines

• Step One: Determine the Guideline Scope and Clinical Objectives
• Step Two: Define and Conduct Appropriate and Comprehensive Literature Searches
• Step Three: Sort and Evaluate the Evidence
• Step Four: Synthesize and Interpret the Evidence
• Step Five: Write Recommendations Based on Expert Interpretation of the Evidence
• Step Six: Assign Classification of Recommendations and Strength of Evidence
• Step Seven: Create Tables, Diagrams, and Mnemonics Describing Recommendations
• Writing Committee Discussions and Consensus Development

Section III: Appendix

• Reference Articles
• Bibliography