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AGAIBS16083
Disclaimer
is Guideline attempts to define principles of practice that should produce high-quality patient care.
It is applicable to specialists, primary care, and providers at all levels. is Guideline should not be
considered exclusive of other methods of care reasonably directed at obtaining the same results. e
ultimate judgment concerning the propriety of any course of conduct must be made by the clinician
aer consideration of each individual patient situation. Neither IGC, the medical associations, nor the
authors endorse any product or service associated with the distributor of this clinical reference tool.
Abbreviations
AGA, American Gastroenterological Association; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-C,
irritable bowel syndrome with constipation-predominant symptoms; IBS-D, irritable bowel
syndrome with diarrhea-predominant symptoms; IBS-M, irritable bowel syndrome with mixed
pattern; PEG, polyethylene glycol; SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; TCAs,
tricyclic antidepressants
Source
Weinberg DS, Smalley W, Heidelbaugh JJ, Sultan S. American Gastroenterological Association
Institute Guideline on the Pharmacological Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Gastroenterolog y 2014;147:1146–1148.
GRADE Strength of Recommendations and Implications
Grade
Implications of strong and conditional (weak)
guideline recommendations
Strong • Patients: Most people in this situation would want the recommended
course of action, and only a small proportion would not. Formal
decision aids are not likely to be needed to help patients make
decisions consistent with their values and preferences.
• Clinicians: Most patients should receive the recommended course of
action. Adherence to this recommendation according to guidelines
could be used as a quality criterion or a performance indicator.
• Policy makers: The recommendation can be adapted as a policy in
most situations.
Conditional (weak) • Patients: Most people in this situation would want the recommended
course of action, and only a small proportion would not. Formal
decision aids are not likely to be needed to help patients make
decisions consistent with their values and preferences.
• Clinicians: Most patients should receive the recommended course of
action. Adherence to this recommendation according to guidelines
could be used as a quality criterion or a performance indicator.
• Policy makers: The recommendation can be adapted as a policy in
most situations.
Reprinted with permission from Sultan et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 201311:329–332.
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