Introduction: The Rationale for Guidelines

Abstract

This paper covers the rationale for guidelines, including who needs guidelines and why, the practical issues raised by guidelines, and the ways forward. Four groups have a stake in guidelines: government, industry, researchers, and health care decision makers. There are three purposes of guidelines: a requirement for reimbursement from the public sector, a statement of methodological standards, and a statement of ethical standards. The relationships of the stakeholders to the purposes are discussed.