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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Searching/Browsing

  1. How can I find guidelines on a specific topic?
  2. How can I limit my search results to those guidelines that include an evidence table and/or evaluation of the level of evidence for each recommendation?
  3. Is NGC searching the complete, full-text guideline for my search terms?
  4. My search returned a results page stating "no guidelines were found" -- Why doesn't NGC have any guidelines on my topic?

Guideline Summaries

  1. Why don't all of the summaries include references supporting the recommendations?
  2. Why are some fields, like the "References Supporting the Recommendations" field, displayed at some times but not at other times?

Guideline Submissions, Inclusion Criteria, Copyright Permission

  1. What are NGC's criteria for inclusion?
  2. How do I submit guidelines for possible inclusion in NGC?
  3. Are there copyright restrictions on the information accessed through the NGC Web site at www.guideline.gov?
  4. What are examples of guideline documentation provided to NGC?
  5. How does NGC use the submitted guideline documentation?
  6. How do I cite the information found at the NGC Web site, e.g., a Guideline Summary, Guideline Synthesis, or Expert Commentary?

Publication Activity

  1. What does NGC do when it removes a Guideline Summary from the NGC Web site?
  2. How can I obtain an earlier version of a guideline currently included in NGC?
  3. How can I find out about new guidelines that are published to the NGC Web site?
  4. How can I subscribe to the What's New Weekly e-mail or modify my existing subscription?
  5. Why are many guidelines removed from the NGC Web site at the end of the year, and how do I know if they are going to be updated?
  6. How can I find out if a particular guideline will be added to the NGC Web site in the near future?

Technical Questions

  1. Are the NGC Guideline Summaries and/or Guideline Syntheses available in a downloadable format suitable for use with a handheld computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc.?
  2. I am a Webmaster of health-related Web site -- may we establish a link from our Web page to www.guideline.gov?
  3. Which browsers work with the Web NGC site?
  4. How do I maximize the screen display size when looking at the guideline views (e.g., Brief Summary, Complete Summary, Guideline Comparison, Guideline Synthesis, Full-Text)?
  5. How do I print content that contains tables?
  6. What does NGC offer to system developers
  7. Is NGC content available for download to PocketPC users?
  8. Page Cannot be Displayed" error message">When I hit the "Back" button of my browser, I receive a "Page Cannot be Displayed" error message. Is there something I can do to prevent this error?

Miscellaneous

  1. Why aren't all of the clinical practice guidelines produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) listed in the NGC database?
  2. What is the difference between a "clinical guideline," "practice parameter," and "standard"?
  3. How do I obtain the original full-text guideline upon which the NGC Guideline Summary is based?
  4. What is the contact information for the National Guideline Clearinghouse?
  5. How do I obtain the NGC CD-ROM Tutorial?
  6. I am a patient and have a specific health-related question. Who can I contact?



Searching/Browsing NGC

  1. How can I find guidelines on a specific topic?

    Go to the How to Search and How to Browse pages to learn useful tips on how to search and browse the Web site.

    Type a search term in the Search box accessible on all pages to quickly search Web site.

    You can also use the Detailed Search feature to perform specific and refined searches. This feature allows users to filter searches by one or more guideline attributes (i.e., methods used to develop the guideline, guideline developer type, patient information available).

    See the Frequent Searchs to find guidelines related to frequently requested topics.

    The Browse feature allows users to browse by Disease/Condition, Treatment/Intervention, or Organization.

  2. How can I limit my search results to those guidelines that include an evidence table and/or evaluation of the level of evidence for each recommendation?

    The NGC Detailed Search feature allows users to limit their search of the NGC database by the following guideline methodology components:

  3. Is NGC searching the complete, full-text guideline for my search terms?

    No. In the Basic Search mode, NGC searches the contents of the Complete Summary. In the Detailed Search mode, NGC searches the specific field that corresponds to the criteria selected.

  4. My search returned a results page stating "no guidelines were found" -- Why doesn't NGC have any guidelines on my topic?

    It is possible that a search may not yield guidelines matching the specified criteria because:

    • A search may be too narrow -- try broadening the search using the "OR" operator or truncating some of the words using the asterisk "*" symbol.
    • A word may be misspelled
    • The Web site may not have a guideline on that topic. Note: Content is constantly changing, and new guidelines are added weekly.

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Guideline Summaries

  1. Why don't all of the summaries include references supporting the recommendations?

    NGC uses a systematic approach to decide when it is appropriate to include author, year citations in the "Major Recommendations" field and full citations in the "References Supporting the Recommendations" field. Two criteria drive the decision-making process: (1) the recommendations are explicitly stated, and (2) those explicit statements are referenced. The first criterion means the recommendations in the guideline document are easily identified, stand-alone, action-oriented statements. Explicit recommendation statements are not interspersed among rationale in the guideline document. Rationale for the recommendations may be provided in sections before or after the actual recommendations but not within the same body of content as the recommendations. The second criterion means that the reference(s) supporting the explicit recommendation is(are) provided at the end of the statement. References cited in the rationale for the recommendation are not captured.

  2. Why are some fields, like the "References Supporting the Recommendations" field, displayed at some times but not at other times?

    NGC will not display a field when the original guideline lacks relevant content.

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Guideline Submissions, Inclusion Criteria, Copyright Permission

  1. What are NGC's criteria for inclusion?

    Please see our Inclusion Criteria page.

  2. How do I submit guidelines for possible inclusion in NGC?

    Please see our Submit Guidelines page.

  3. Are there copyright restrictions on the information accessed through the NGC Web site at www.guideline.gov?

    There are no copyright restrictions that prevent users from copying and/or distributing content found on the National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) Web site, provided that all content is appropriately identified. NGC's content (guideline summaries and syntheses) is available for public use, and we encourage the distribution of our content, particularly for educational purposes. NGC content may not be used for commercial and/or product endorsement purposes.

    While most of NGC's content is free of restrictions, exceptions occur in where individual guideline developers have requested otherwise. Users can refer to the "COPYRIGHT STATEMENT" field at the end of each summary to determine if such restrictions apply.

    NGC does NOT have the authority to grant copyright clearance for the original full text guidelines upon which the summaries are based. NGC seeks and receives permission from each guideline developer whose guidelines appear on the Web site. If you are interested in using/distributing the original full text guideline, you will need to refer to the specific copyright restrictions imposed by the individual guideline developers.

    See our Copyright/Permission Requests page for more information.

  4. What are examples of guideline documentation provided to NGC?

    A variety of documents are submitted to NGC by guideline developers including the following:

    • Guideline documents/recommendations statements (published journal articles, unpublished documents, documents published electronically)
    • Technical manuals describing the developer's process for guideline development
    • Documents detailing the specific methodology for the guideline (evidence syntheses, systematic reviews, assessment reports)
    • Patient resources (fact sheets, patient versions of guideline recommendations, pamphlets/brochures)
    • Tools to assist in implementation (quick reference guides, PDA downloads, pocket guides. algorithms, order sets, chart documentation, slide sets, etc.)
    • Continuing Medical Education (CME) material
    • Other companion documents (background material, costing statements)
  5. How does NGC use the submitted guideline documentation?

    This information is used by NGC to compare submitted guidelines against the Inclusion Criteria and to subsequently develop summaries of those submitted guidelines that do meet the Inclusion Criteria.

  6. How do I cite the information found at the NGC Web site; an NGC Guideline Summary or an NGC Guideline Synthesis?

    The suggested citation format for a Guideline Summary:

    • National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). Guideline summary: [insert title of summary]. In: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) [website]. Rockville (MD): [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available: http://www.guideline.gov.

      Example: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). Guideline summary: Screening for breast cancer. In: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) [website]. Rockville (MD): [cited 2007 Nov 20]. Available: http://www.guideline.gov.

    The suggested citation format for a Guideline Synthesis:

    • National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). Guideline synthesis: [insert title of synthesis]. In: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) [website]. Rockville (MD): [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available: http://www.guideline.gov.

      Example: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). Guideline synthesis: Screening for breast cancer. In: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) [website]. Rockville (MD): [cited 2008 Jan 7]. Available: http://www.guideline.gov.

    If you are citing the original guideline upon which the Summaries or Syntheses are based, please refer to the "SOURCE" field included in each Guideline Summary or the sources listed under the "Guidelines" section found at the top of each Guideline Synthesis.

    The suggested citation format for an Expert Commentary:

    • Author [insert Commentary author]. Commentary title. In: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) [website]. Rockville (MD): [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available: http://www.guideline.gov.

      Example: Wachter RM. Is the Measurement Mandate Diverting the Patient Safety Revolution? In: National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) [website]. Rockville (MD): [cited 2008 Nov 8]. Available: http://www.guideline.gov.

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Publication Activity

  1. What does NGC do when it removes a Guideline Summary from the Web site?

    Please refer to the Guideline Summary Archive for more information. This feature provides a complete list of Guideline Summaries (with NGC accession numbers) that have been withdrawn from the Web site. Information regarding a current Summary, where available, is provided. The listing is organized alphabetically, by organization.

  2. How can I obtain an earlier version of a guideline currently included in NGC?

    Only the most recent version of a guideline currently included in NGC is available on our Web site. NGC does not retain earlier versions of guidelines that have been updated by the developer. Contact the guideline developer directly for information regarding earlier versions of a particular guideline.

  3. How can I find out about new guidelines that are published to the NGC Web site?

    Register for the NGC Update E-mail Service to receive notices of weekly additions and updates posted to the Web site. Go to the NGC Subscription page to register for this service. You can also manage your subscription (change your e-mail address or unsubscribe from the service) using the NGC Subscription page. This page also allows users to choose the format (HTML or Text) of the e-mail they receive.

  4. How can I subscribe to the What's New Weekly e-mail or modify my existing subscription?

    Users can subscribe, unsubscribe or modify their subscription to the NGC Weekly E-mail service using the NGC Subscription Management utility.

  5. Why are many guidelines removed from the NGC Web site at the end of the year, and how do I know if they are going to be updated?

    As part of the NGC Annual Verification, many guidelines are withdrawn from the Web site at the end of every year because they no longer meet our Inclusion Criteria. NGC's Inclusion Criteria specifically require that guidelines represented in our database have been developed, reviewed or revised within the last five years. All guidelines that no longer meet this criterion are removed from the Web site at the end of each calendar year. Please see the Guideline Summary Archive for a listing of the withdrawn or updated summaries.

    To find out if a guideline update is in progress, contact the guideline developer directly.

  6. How can I find out if a particular guideline will be added to the NGC Web site in the future?

    Users can go to the Guidelines in Progress page to see a list of guidelines in the work queue. Guidelines on this page include new and updated content that meet Inclusion Criteria, and that have the necessary copyright permissions.

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Technical Questions

  1. Are the NGC Guideline Summaries and/or Guideline Syntheses available in a downloadable format suitable for use with a handheld computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc.?

    The NGC Complete Summary is available for download for use with a handheld computer (PDA/Palm devices). Users will find this download option listed in the "Summary" box in the left hand navigation box.

    Some guideline developers provide PDA/Palm downloadable versions of their guidelines. If a version of the guideline is available, you will find details in the "Companion Documents" field. See the PDA/Palm page for a list of guidelines available for download from the developer.

  2. I am a Webmaster of health-related Web site -- may we establish a link from our Web page to www.guideline.gov?

    NGC welcomes health-related Web sites to establish links from their pages to www.guideline.gov. Links may not be used for advertising or commercial endorsement purposes. For more information, see the Linking to NGC page.

  3. Which browsers work with the NGC site?

    NGC recommends using the current versions of Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape Navigator, or Opera. View our Compatible Browsers page for a full list of browsers tested.

  4. How do I maximize the screen display size when looking at the guideline views (e.g., Brief Summary, Complete Summary, Guideline Comparison, Guideline Synthesis, Full-Text)?

    The "Hide Menu" and "Show Menu" features located at the top of the page are designed to let users minimize and maximize the menus.

  5. How do I print NGC content that contains tables (e.g., Guideline Comparisons, NGC Guideline Summaries) from the NGC Web site?

    NGC is designed to support printing of tables that are equal in width to the size of standard paper.

    NGC cautions users to limit the total number of guidelines included in any one Tabular Comparison to no more than 3 or 4, for optimal printing. Because HTML is primarily a display output, it may be possible to view complex Guideline Comparisons containing more than four guidelines; however, printing is still limited to within the size of standard paper.

  6. What does NGC offer to system developers?

    NGC has developed several tools for system developers interested in using the content contained on the NGC Web site.

    Please see our System Developers Request page for more information.

  7. Is NGC content available for download to Pocket PC users?

    Pocket PC users require no special support to view and download files from the Web site.

    Please see our Pocket PC Users page for more information.

  8. When I hit the "Back" button of my browser, I receive a "Page Cannot be Displayed" error message. Is there something I can do to prevent this error?

    This problem is related to your Internet browser settings, particularly if you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). You may be able to resolve this issue by changing your browser settings:

    • Go to "Tools" in the upper menu bar of your browser and select "Internet Options"
    • Select the "General" tab
    • Click on "Settings" in the group box labeled "Temporary Internet Files"
    • Under the group labeled "Check for newer versions of saved pages," select "Every visit to the page"
    • Select "Ok" and then "Ok" again
    • Close and re-open your browser

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Miscellaneous

  1. Why aren't all of the clinical practice guidelines produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) listed in the NGC database?

    The majority of guidelines produced by AHRQ are no longer included in NGC because these documents are over five years old and no longer meet one of NGC's inclusion criteria. (AHRQ considers these guidelines, either in whole or part, to be out of date.)

    Users should consider searching the National Library of Medicine's Health Services/Technology Assessment Text (HSTAT) database http://hstat.nlm.nih.gov/hq/Hquest -- current and archived AHRQ guidelines can be accessed via this site.

    Additional information regarding the availability of AHRQ guidelines can be found in the AHRQ Publications Catalog or under the Clinical Practice Guidelines section of the AHRQ Web site.

    Users can also refer to the Guideline Archive for more information.

  2. What is the difference between a "clinical guideline," "practice parameter," and "standard"?

    Evidence-based clinical guidance documents are heterogeneous, as is the terminology utilized to describe and/or label them. The phrases "guideline," "protocol," "practice parameter," "pathway," "standard," etc., are used in many different contexts by different guideline developers.

    NGC's Inclusion Criteria rely on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) definition of clinical practice guideline:

    • Clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. [Institute of Medicine. (1990). Clinical Practice Guidelines: Directions for a New Program, M.J. Field and K.N. Lohr (eds.) Washington, DC: National Academy Press. page 38].

    Any document meeting NGC's Inclusion Criteria is eligible for inclusion, regardless of how it is labeled.

    Interested users may want to search NGC's Annotated Bibliographies for additional information. This feature allows users to search for publications and resources about guidelines.

  3. How do I obtain the original full-text guideline upon which the NGC Guideline Summary is based?

    NGC is not able to directly fulfill orders for printed copies of the guidelines. Users can find out more information, by going to the "Guideline Availability" that appears toward end of each Guideline Summary. For guidelines that have an electronic version, a link is provided in the "Summary" box, located in the left hand navigation bar.

  4. What is the contact information for the National Guideline Clearinghouse?

    See the Contact NGC page.

  5. How do I obtain the NGC CD-ROM tutorial?

    Please see our CD-ROM Tutorial Request page for ordering information.

  6. I am a patient and have a health-related question. Who can I contact?

    NGC does not have medical professionals or physicians on staff to answer patients' questions and/or to advise on health-related issues or experiences. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Please also consider visiting our Patient Resources page.

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If you have additional questions, please email us.