Clinical practice guidelines are crucial advocacy tools for healthcare professionals, ensuring patients receive the most effective and evidence-based care. Staying updated with the latest recommendations is paramount in today’s rapidly evolving medical landscape. This resource compiles a range of practice briefs across various specialties, designed to empower clinicians with the knowledge to advocate for optimal patient outcomes and deliver exceptional guidelines-driven care. Explore the summaries and access the full practice briefs to enhance your clinical decision-making and patient advocacy.
Cardiology
American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk — 2013
These guidelines, a collaborative effort by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), offer essential advocacy tools for clinicians. They emphasize lifestyle management as a cornerstone for reducing cardiovascular risk, providing a framework for patient education and care plans focused on preventative strategies.
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American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Rhythm Society Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Developed jointly by the AHA, ACC, and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), these 2014 recommendations serve as vital advocacy guidelines for managing atrial fibrillation (AF). Understanding AF, a complex condition marked by uncoordinated atrial activity, is crucial for effective patient care. This brief provides clinicians with essential tools to advocate for patients with AF through informed management strategies.
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Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke
The 2019 AHA guidelines represent an up-to-date, comprehensive advocacy resource for clinicians managing acute ischemic stroke (AIS). These evidence-based recommendations are designed to equip healthcare professionals with the best practices for evaluating and treating AIS. They further guide the subsequent care of hospitalized patients, including the critical implementation of secondary prevention measures, ensuring continuous advocacy for patient well-being.
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Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults
This updated guideline on managing hypertension in adults is a significant advocacy tool, differing substantially from its predecessor, the Seventh Joint National Committee (JNC 7). It provides clinicians with current best practices to advocate for their patients’ cardiovascular health through effective blood pressure management strategies.
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Management of Patients With Return of Spontaneous Circulation after Cardiac Arrest
These guidelines, resulting from advances in post-cardiac arrest care and endorsed by the American Heart Association and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, are crucial advocacy guidelines. They offer updated, multidisciplinary, evidence-based recommendations to optimize survival and functional status after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). This brief synthesizes these guidelines, providing clinicians with essential insights to advocate for the best possible outcomes in post-resuscitation care in both OHCA and IHCA scenarios.
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Management of Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
The American Heart Association’s (AHA) updated clinical practice guidelines on managing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are essential advocacy tools for clinicians. Since the last update in 2015, significant advancements in treatment strategies have reshaped the standard of care. These guidelines offer evidence-based recommendations for evaluating and treating ICH, alongside managing hospitalized patients and initiating secondary prevention. Focused on spontaneous ICH, these guidelines ensure clinicians are equipped to advocate for patients with best practices.
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Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
Allergic Rhinitis Clinical Practice Guideline
Developed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, this guideline is a key advocacy tool for all clinicians. Its purpose is to enhance the quality of care for patients with allergic rhinitis by promoting accurate diagnosis and appropriate, evidence-based treatment strategies, ensuring clinicians can effectively advocate for their patients’ well-being.
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Genetics
Genetic Counseling and Testing by Advanced Practice Providers
This guideline addresses a critical gap in clinical practice, as few general, non-disease-specific guidelines cover genetic counseling and testing. It serves as an important advocacy tool for advanced practice providers, offering guidance in this increasingly vital area of patient care and ensuring they are well-equipped to advocate for appropriate genetic services.
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Health Promotion and Wellness
Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder
This recently updated practice parameter from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) provides revised guidelines for assessing and treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents (aged 17 and younger). It stands as an essential advocacy tool, offering clinicians the latest recommendations to ensure effective assessment and treatment strategies for young patients with ASD.
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Sleep Disorder Management Diagnostic Treatment Guidelines Summary
AIM Specialty Health® (AIM) updated guidelines on polysomnography and home sleep testing in 2019. These guidelines are advocacy tools that promote safe, cost-effective, and appropriate specialty services in sleep disorder management. Based on a grading of evidence, they ensure clinicians have access to best practices for diagnosis and treatment, enhancing their ability to advocate for patients with sleep disorders.
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Infectious Disease
Management of Post-COVID-19 Conditions
Access the latest guidance for managing multiple post-COVID conditions, along with references to the full Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. This resource serves as a crucial advocacy tool, providing clinicians with up-to-date recommendations to address the complex needs of patients experiencing post-COVID-19 conditions, ensuring they can advocate for comprehensive and informed care.
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Measles: Recommendations for Assessment, Treatment and Prevention
The CDC guidelines for healthcare providers on measles assessment, treatment, and prevention are vital advocacy tools. In “Measles for Healthcare Professionals,” clinicians gain access to essential information to advocate for public health and individual patient care through effective measles management and prevention strategies.
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Mpox
Access the most recent recommendations to guide clinicians on Mpox epidemiology, recognition, diagnosis, and treatment. This resource is a critical advocacy tool, enabling healthcare professionals to stay informed and effectively manage Mpox cases, ensuring they can advocate for patients during outbreaks.
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Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention — Injectable
This guidance supports the successful implementation of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in high-risk populations. It serves as an advocacy tool, providing clinicians with the latest information to effectively advocate for and implement this preventative measure in their communities.
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Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention — Oral
Obtain information about CDC guidelines related to implementing oral PrEP to prevent HIV infection in high-risk populations. This resource functions as an advocacy tool, equipping clinicians with the necessary knowledge to promote and advocate for oral PrEP as an effective HIV prevention strategy.
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Sepsis and Septic Shock
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, regularly updated and summarized in this practice brief, are essential advocacy tools for clinicians treating sepsis and septic shock. The most recent 2021 iteration provides clinicians with the latest evidence-based practices to advocate for improved patient outcomes in these critical conditions.
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Strategies to Prevent Clostridium Difficile Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update
These updated guidelines, a collaborative effort by SHEA, IDSA, AHA, and APIC, are important advocacy tools focused on preventing Clostridium difficile infections in acute care settings. By implementing these strategies, clinicians can advocate for safer hospital environments and reduced infection rates.
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Nephrology
Diabetic Kidney Disease
This practice brief offers an overview and guidelines for clinicians managing patients with diabetes to monitor and reduce the risk of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Based on guidelines from Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), it serves as an advocacy tool, providing clinicians with essential knowledge to advocate for early detection and prevention of DKD progression.
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Obesity and Weight Management
Pharmacological Management of Obesity: Obesity Management Association (OMA) 2020 Obesity Algorithm
The OMA 2020 Obesity Algorithm, discussing obesity management and pharmacological guidance, is an advocacy tool for clinicians. It emphasizes a foundational treatment approach incorporating diet, activity, and behavioral interventions, with pharmacologic support, enabling clinicians to advocate for comprehensive weight management strategies.
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Oncology and Hematology
Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Summary
This summary of breast cancer screening guidelines from ACS, ACOG, and USPSTF is a crucial advocacy tool. By providing a concise overview of these commonly used guidelines, it empowers clinicians to advocate for appropriate breast cancer screening for their patients based on the latest recommendations.
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Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines Summary
Based on the 2021 USPSTF guidelines, this brief provides guidance for clinicians on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for asymptomatic, average-risk individuals. It serves as an advocacy tool, ensuring clinicians are informed about current best practices in CRC screening to advocate for preventative care.
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Pain Management
Guidelines for Prescribing Opioid Medications
The CDC’s updated recommendations on safe opioid prescribing for non-cancer pain are vital advocacy guidelines. This practice brief overviews evidence-based practices incorporating current CDC recommendations, equipping clinicians with the tools to advocate for responsible opioid prescribing and patient safety.
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Opioids for Chronic, Non-cancer Pain: A Position Paper of the American Academy of Neurology
The AAN position paper on long-term opioid use for non-cancer pain is summarized here, offering direct application for advanced nursing practice. This review serves as an advocacy tool, providing insights into the AAN’s stance and supporting informed decision-making regarding opioid use in chronic pain management.
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Practice Guideline Update: Acute Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guidelines on acute migraine treatment in children and adolescents are evidence-based advocacy tools. Covering counseling, diagnosis, evaluation, management, and treatment, they ensure clinicians have the resources to advocate for effective migraine care in young patients.
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Practice Guideline Update: Preventive Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents
AAN’s guidelines on preventive migraine treatment in children and adolescents are also evidence-based advocacy tools. These best practices for counseling, diagnosis, evaluation, management, and treatment empower clinicians to advocate for comprehensive migraine care, including preventive strategies, for their younger patients.
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Primary Care Management of Headaches in Adults
Toward Optimized Practice (TOP) of Alberta, Canada, provides multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines for headache management in adults. These evidence-based guidelines are valuable advocacy tools for primary care clinicians, offering best practices for managing headaches and ensuring optimal patient care.
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Psych and Mental Health
Primary Care Diagnosis and Management of Adults With Depression
The 2014 updated guideline from the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium is an advocacy tool for primary care clinicians. Synthesizing published studies, protocols, and national guidelines, it offers recommendations for diagnosing and managing depression in adults, promoting evidence-based mental healthcare within primary care settings.
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Pulmonary and Respiratory
Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2020
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2020 report is a crucial advocacy guideline for COPD management. Regularly revised based on scientific literature, it provides clinicians with the latest global strategy for diagnosing, managing, and preventing COPD, ensuring they have the best tools to advocate for their patients’ respiratory health.
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Women’s Health
Menopausal Symptoms: Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies
The Agency for Quality Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 2015 report comparing therapies for menopausal symptoms is an advocacy tool for women’s health clinicians. By providing a comparative effectiveness analysis, it empowers clinicians to advocate for informed treatment decisions for menopausal symptoms based on the best available evidence.
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These practice briefs and guidelines serve as essential advocacy tools and resources for healthcare professionals. By utilizing these resources, clinicians can ensure they are providing the highest standard of care, grounded in evidence-based practices, and effectively advocating for their patients’ health and well-being across a spectrum of medical specialties.
