This guide outlines the different ways in which physio staff can engage with one of the major guideline producers, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Evidence-based practice in physiotherapy is embedded in the Standards of Proficiency of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Evidence-based guidelines are 'able to enhance clinician and patient decision making by clearly describing and appraising the scientific evidence and reasoning (the likely benefits and harms) behind clinical recommendations, making them relevant to the individual patient encounter'.
About the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
SIGN was formed in 1993 to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines for the NHS in Scotland. SIGN was set up as a collaborative initiative, all working to develop and disseminate national clinical guidelines.
SIGN produces evidence-based clinical guidelines, using a robust process that has been accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Since 2005, SIGN has been part of NHS Scotland, under Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the national body in Scotland that works to drive improvement in the quality of healthcare that people receive.
However, it does retain editorial independence for the guidelines that it produces.
How SIGN works
SIGN Council is the policy-making body for SIGN. They have responsibility for selecting guideline topics, guideline development methodology, and editorial policy.
SIGN Council has representatives from medical specialties, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, allied health professionals, public partners and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
SIGN accepts topic proposals from any group or individual, which are then assessed by SIGN Council to decide if the topic warrants a clinical guideline.
Download the full document (pdf, 6 pages, 0.8mb) below.