Review: nursing care driven by guidelines improves some process measures and patient outcomesEffect of clinical guidelines in nursing, midwifery, and the therapies: a Systematic review of evaluations.

Thomas L, Cullum N, McColl E, et al. Clinical guidelines in nursing, midwifery and other professions allied to medicine. (Cochrane Review, latest version 24 Nov 1998). In: Cochrane Library. Oxford: Update Software.Thomas LH, McColl E, Cullum N, et al. Effect of clinical guidelines in nursing, midwifery, and the therapies: a Systematic review of evaluations. Quality In Health Care 1998Dec;7: 183–91.ThomasLHMcCollECullumNet alEffect of clinical guidelines in nursing, midwifery, and the therapies: a Systematic review of evaluations.Quality In Health Care19987183-91Question For the disciplines of nursing, midwifery, health visiting, chiropody, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, clinical psychology, pharmacy, and radiography, do dissemination and implementation of clinical practice guidelines improve professional practice, cost effectiveness, and patient outcomes?

Source of funding: National Health Service R&D Programme, UK.

For correspondence: Dr L H Thomas, Centre for Health Services Research, University of Newcastle, 21 Claremont Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AA, UK. Fax +44 (0)191 222 6043.