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Developing NICE guidelines: the manual

NICE process and methods [PMG20] Published: 31 October 2014 Last updated: 29 May 2024

  • Process
  • Tools and resources
  • Overview
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 The scope
  • 3 Decision-making committees
  • 4 Developing review questions and planning the evidence review
  • 5 Identifying the evidence: literature searching and evidence submission
  • 6 Reviewing evidence
  • 7 Incorporating economic evaluation
  • 8 Linking to other guidance
  • 9 Interpreting the evidence and writing the guideline
  • 10 The validation process for draft guidelines, and dealing with stakeholder comments
  • 11 Finalising and publishing the guideline recommendations
  • 12 Support for putting the guideline recommendations into practice
  • 13 Ensuring that published guidelines are current and accurate
  • 14 Updating guideline recommendations
  • 15 Appendices
  • Glossary
  • Update information
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NICE process and methods

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This manual explains the processes and methods used to develop and update NICE guidelines, the guidance that NICE develops covering topics across clinical care (in primary, secondary and community care settings), social care and public health. For more information on the other types of NICE guidance and advice (including technology appraisal guidance), see about NICE.

Last reviewed: 29 May 2024

We updated section 1.4 on choice of guideline topics to reflect the publication of NICE-wide topic prioritisation: the manual.


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