Table 1.

Implications of strong and conditional recommendations for users of American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guidelines.

Strong recommendation “We recommend…”	Almost all patients should receive the recommended course of action. Adherence to this recommendation could be used as a quality criterion or performance indicator.
Conditional recommendation “We suggest…”	Most patients should receive the suggested course of action; however, different choices may be appropriate for different patients. The clinician must help each patient determine whether the suggested course of action is clinically appropriate and consistent with their values and preferences.

The ultimate judgment regarding the suitability of any specific recommendation must be made by the clinician and the patient.