Introduction

Contents:

KNGF evidence-based clinical practice guidelines

The Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF) presents the evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. As a result of international collaboration in guidelines development, the KNGF has decided to translate developed guidelines into English to make the guidelines accessible at an international level.

International accessibility of clinical practice guidelines in Physical Therapy makes it possible for Physical Therapist to use guidelines, and adjust guidelines to their local situation if necessary. It also makes international collaboration possible in further development and in the updating process of guidelines.

The World confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) has committed itself to evidence-based practice by developing a program, in which development, endorsement and accessibility of clinical practice guidelines is defined as one of the goals. At the same time the European Region of WCPT has installs a working group Professional Issues, also to explore the areas of evidence-based practice and clinical practice guidelines.

Click here for an overview of clinical practice guidelines (CPG's)

Each guideline consists of three parts: (1) a summary in flow-chart or in written text; (2) the guidelines itself, focusing on Physical Therapy diagnosis and treatment; (3) Discussion.

We have added several articles to give some more background information in the process of guideline development, and the way clinical guidelines are embedded in the Quality Assurance program in the Netherlands:

• Quality Assurance in the Netherlands: from development to implementation and evaluation;
• Development and implementation of national practice guidelines: a prospect for continuous quality improvement in Physiotherapy;
• Development and implementation of national practice guidelines: a prospect for continuous quality improvement in Physiotherapy. An introduction to method of guideline implementation.

Click here for Method (2) or Evaluation (3)