| [ Summary ] |
Practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis were released in Japan in 2006. Guidelines for Crohn's disease are currently being developed. In these guidelines, lists of evidence-based statements were evaluated by experts, and endorsed by a consensus developed in the Delphi rounds. By definition, practice guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patients in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. Guidelines should not be used to control or regulate clinical judgment, but to support clinical practice. |