ABSTRACT
We compared the types (A, B, or C) of recommendations and levels (I, II, III, or others)
of references in the original versus revised practice bulletins (PBs). American College
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) compendiums and Web site were used to obtain
the PBs. Chi-square test for trend or Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests were used. From
December 1998 to December 2008, ACOG published 78 PBs, of which 24% (19) have been
revised. Neither the median numbers of recommendations per PB (8 to 10; p = 0.235) nor the type (p = 0.155) increased significantly. Additionally, the level of references (p = 0.130) and the type of journals they were published in did not vary significantly
(p = 0.554). In 10 years, approximately one in four PBs has been revised and the number
of recommendations per PB has increased, but the types of suggestions and level of
references has not improved appreciably.
KEYWORDS
Practice bulletin - national guidelines - levels of recommendations - types of references
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Suneet P ChauhanM.D.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
and Public Health
945 N 12th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Email: suneet.chauhan@aurora.org