DEVELOPMENT OF REVIEW CRITERIA - LINKING GUIDELINES AND ASSESSMENT OFQUALITY

Review criteria are designed to enable clinicians and others to assess care. However, there is no established method for developing criteria , and they are often confused with guidelines. Criteria should compris e measurable activities that are appropriate for the setting in which they are to be used. They should also be based on research evidence an d prioritised according to the strength of that evidence and effect on outcome. Good criteria can be used to aid implementation of guideline s by providing a standard against which to monitor performance and ena bling clinical audit.