Clinical Guideline Development

What clinical practice guidelines are necessary to promote and support osteopathy?

Have your say in our survey

The development of good Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) requires the active participation of key stakeholders, including but not limited to healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients.

CPGs provide recommendations on care practices and can be used by practitioners to aid in decisions about appropriate care. Guideline topics are often vast and can range from diagnostics, screening strategies, and referrals to interventions or best practice for a clinical condition. Ultimately, they aim to promote evidence-based practice and can be used as a tool for making care more consistent and efficient while closing the gap between clinician care and scientific evidence. They are based on rigorous review and critical appraisal of scientific evidence and translate high-quality evidence into recommendations on clinical practice and care.

Guidelines can improve health outcomes and the quality-of-care patients receive by promoting interventions and practices of proven benefit. CPGs often outline the potential benefits and risks of available treatments. In turn, they can also empower patients to make more informed healthcare choices by considering their personal needs and preferences when seeking care. Not only do CPGs assist with clinical/shared decision making and patient care, but they can also call attention to under-recognised health problems, clinical services, interventions, and patient populations while informing decisions by policy makers about the appropriate allocation of healthcare resources.

Guidelines exist to guide – they do not intend to override clinical judgement, experience, or flexibility. They offer the chance to improve the quality of care by reducing practice variation, promoting adherence to standards of care, and promoting shared decision making. Quality care requires a combination of evidence, clinical expertise, and patient input.

Your input and direction will inform us on what clinical areas are important to you as an osteopath. Tell us about what guideline topics you believe will support and advocate for the profession and where we can build on evidence-based practice to continue promoting osteopathy on a national level.

Have your say on clinical guideline topics

Survey should take no more than a couple minutes. Responses will be kept anonymous and entirely confidential.

For enquires please contact Shamona Eaves, Senior Research and Project Officer, seaves@osteopathy.org.au