Strengths of Recommendations (cont'd)
From the ATS/JRS/ALAT
Outpatient Respiratory
Management of Patients
with PPRD Guidelines Panel
Discussion
Recommendation
("We recommend...")
Suggestion
("We suggest...")
It is the right course
of action for >95% of
patients.
It is the right course
of action for >50% of
patients.
"Just do it." "Slow down, think about
it, discuss it with the
patient."
You would be willing
to tell a colleague who
did not follow the
recommendation that
he/she did the wrong
thing.
You would not be willing
to tell a colleague who
did not follow the
recommendation that he/
she did the wrong thing ;
it is "style" or "equipoise."
The recommended
course of action may
be an appropriate
performance measure.
The recommended
course of action is
not appropriate for a
performance measure.
e meaning of a suggestion is the same as a weak or conditional recommendation in typical
GRADE nomenclature.
