Table 2.

AGREE Global Rating Scale

Seven items using ordinal rating scale of 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest) quality; maximum sum of 49. Average score = total score/7. Quality interpreted as follows: High quality: average 6–7; acceptable quality: average 4–5; unacceptable quality: <4

1. Development process—rate overall quality of guideline development methods.

Appropriate stakeholders involved in the development of the guideline?

Evidentiary base developed systematically?

Recommendations consistent with the literature

2. Presentation style—rate overall quality of the guideline presentation.

Guideline well organized?

Recommendations easy to find?

3. Completeness of reporting—rate completeness of reporting.

Development process transparent and reproducible?

Was information to inform decision making complete?

4. Clinical validity—rate overall quality of the guideline recommendations.

Recommendations clinically sound?

Recommendations appropriate for the intended patients?

Overall assessment

1. Rate the overall quality of this guideline.

2. I would recommend this guideline for use in practice.

3. I would make use of a guideline of this quality in my professional decisions.

Aus-ACA, Australian Chiropractors Association.