What is a NICE guideline?
NICE guidelines are recommendations for the care of individuals in specific clinical conditions or circumstances within the NHS from prevention and self-care through primary and secondary care to more specialised services. These may also include elements of social care or public health measures. We base our guidelines on the best available research evidence, with the aim of improving the quality of healthcare. We use predetermined and systematic methods to identify and evaluate the evidence relating to specific review questions. NICE guidelines can: provide recommendations for the treatment and care of people by health professionals; be used to develop standards to assess the clinical practice of individual health professionals; be used in the education and training of health professionals; help patients to make informed decisions; improve communication between patient and health professional. While guidelines assist the practice of healthcare professionals, they do not replace their knowledge and skills.