Problems in health care funding and delivery continue to provide the impetus for the clinical effectiveness movement in New Zealand and internationally. The combined effect of new technology, an ageing population, and rising community expectations means that demand on health care resources continues to grow rapidly.
Guidelines are decision tools that assist both providers and patients in decision-making.
Guidelines are increasingly part of current practice and their use is expected to become more common over the next decade. In the two years since the First National Guidelines Conference, best-practice guidelines have been established in an important role in the New Zealand health and disability sector. Guidelines are now used routinely in many areas of the health sector, including primary, secondary and tertiary care, community care and disability support. Over the past three years of the National Health Committee's Guidelines Programme, NZGG has convened training programmes for over 150 health and disability professionals. Modified programmes have been run in conjunction with Maori working in the health sector and consumer representatives.