2 Methods

• 2.1  Clinical research questions – development and details
• 2.2  Review and research
  • 2.2.1  Systematic review process
  • 2.2.2  Background material
• 2.3  Development of evidence statements, recommendations and practice points

The development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines that meet NHMRC standards involves developing a set of clinical research questions, systematically reviewing the scientific literature for evidence related to those questions, and then developing and grading recommendations based on a structured assessment of the evidence.¹² The methods used in applying this process to the development of this module are outlined below, and are given in full in the accompanying technical reports. A summary of the overall process for development of this module is given in Appendix D.