26
Diagnosis
Strengths of Recommendations
From the GRADE
working group
Recommendation
("We recommend...")
Suggestion
("We suggest...")
For patients The overwhelming majority
of individuals in this situation
would want the recommended
course of action and only a
small minority would not.
The majority of individuals
in this situation would want
the suggested course of
action, but a sizable minority
would not.
For clinicians The overwhelming majority
of 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.
Different choices will be
appropriate for different
patients, and you must
help each patient arrive at
a management decision
consistent with her or his
values and preferences.
Decision aids may be useful
to help individuals make
decisions consistent with
their values and preferences.
Clinicians should expect
to spend more time with
patients when working
toward a decision.
For policy-makers The recommendation can
be adapted as policy in most
situations, including for use as
performance indicators.
Policy-making will require
substantial debates 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.
