In our student-led small-group, we held a dynamic discussion framed by the following questions:
- What is the purpose of guidelines? Who gets to write them? How do we address conflicts of interest or different motivations when selecting who is developing guidelines?
- How do guidelines get credibility in the first place? Is there any enforcement? Should there be?
- How do guidelines hold us accountable, and how much freedom do we have within them?
- How do you maintain trust with patients when guidelines frequently change? Does this undermine our credibility and trust? (ex. COVID/CDC, nutrition)
- What do you do if or when you perceive a guideline to not be supported by evidence?
- How do you reconcile your personal beliefs in implementing guidelines, if they contradict?