Methodology

The original guidelines were drawn up by a working party selected to contain representatives of a wide variety of different cardiological practices, general practice, academic cardiology and epidemiology, and with advice from patient groups and purchaser representatives. Members were asked to prepare monographs on particular topics based both on their own experience and on a review of the literature. The monographs were then discussed in committee and a consensus synthesis of guidelines undertaken. For the processes of revision a working group representative of a similarly wide spectrum of experience was identified and asked: (1) to review the existing guidelines; (2) suggest corrections and amendments; (3) identify new data in the form of original papers, new guidelines or systematic reviews; and (4) attend a meeting to discuss the relative priorities and nature of amendments. The working group also took specific account of: feedback collected since the publication of the original guidelines; systematic reviews and guidelines published since that date, in particular the guidelines on primary …