Development of a knowledge-based clinical procedure

Physiotherapists are imposed to deliver proper physiotherapy and to keep professionally updated. However, a majority of physiotherapists treat patients with a variety of diagnoses and conditions, of all ages and with many different needs. Thus, keeping updated in all areas is challenging. In this context knowledge-based clinical guidelines may be effective in guiding the individual clinician. The purpose of a knowledge-based clinical guideline is to ensure clinical practice according to best available research, clinical judgment and patient preferences. Strict requirements for methodical accuracy and transparency are laid on the development of a knowledge-based clinical guideline. In this article the different stages in a development process are described. The development of a clinical guideline; «Spondyloarthritis and physiotherapy» is used as an illustration of a development process.