The process by which clinical areas were prioritised for the formulation of national clinical guidelines, using a model devised by the RCN, is outlined in this article.
<p>INFANTS, CHILDREN and adolescents experience pain, and often describe procedures they undergo as the most distressing aspect of disease or hospitalisation. Pain that is not recognised can become established, severe and difficult to control (McQuay 1989). The goal of pain assessment is, therefore, to prevent or minimise pain.</p>
<p>In a companion article to their paper on clinical effectiveness (McClarey and Duff 1997), the authors discuss the issues surrounding clinical guidelines. How they are developed and how they can be adapted to local practice are described to allow practitioners to base their practice on the most up-to-date research evidence</p>
<p>In the first of two articles, the authors address some of the most common questions asked by practitioners about clinical effectiveness. The second article, on clinical guidelines, will appear in Nursing Standard in two weeks</p>
