WHO guidelines published in 2003 emphasise the use of systematic reviews in forming recommendations.
However, a Practihc study by Andy Oxman, John Lavis and Atle Fretheim found that systematic reviews and concise summaries of findings are rarely used for developing WHO recommendations. Instead, processes usually rely heavily on experts in a particular specialty, rather than representatives of those who will have to live with the recommendations or on experts in particular methodological area. The full article is available from the 9th May 2007 Lancet: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607606758/fulltext
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