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ATSSLE18113
Disclaimer
is pocket guide 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 pocket guide 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
BMI, body mass index; OSA, obstructive sleep apnea
Source
Hudgel DW et al. e Role of Weight Management in the Treatment of Adult Obstructive Sleep
Apnea. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;198(6):e70–e87.
Implications of Strong and Conditional Recommendations
Strong Recommendation Conditional Recommendation
Patients Most individuals in this situation
would want the recommended
course of action, and only a small
proportion would not.
Most individuals in this situation would
want the suggested course of action, but
many would not.
Clinicians Most individuals should receive
the recommended course of action.
Adherence to this recommendation
according to the guideline could
be used as a quality criterion or
performance indicator. Formal
decision aids are not likely to be
needed to help individuals make
decisions consistent with their
values and preferences.
Recognize that different choices will be
appropriate for different patients and
that you must help each patient arrive at
a management decision consistent with
her or his values and preferences. Decision
aids may well be useful in helping
individuals making decisions consistent
with their values and preferences.
Clinicians should expect to spend more
time with patients when working toward
a decision.
Policy
makers
e recommendation can
be adopted as policy in most
situations, including for use as
performance indicators.
Policy making will require substantial
debate and involvement of many
stakeholders. Policies are also more likely
to vary between regions. Performance
indicators would have to focus on the
fact that adequate deliberation about the
management options has taken place.
