Table 1.

CQ classifications

CQ classifications
Background questions (BQ)	CQs which inquire about what is general knowledge, such as diseases, diagnoses, and treatment
	Standard knowledge is presented.
	Systematic review is not needed.
	No recommendations are given.
Foreground questions (FQ)	CQs which inquire about information specialized to various situations in clinical settings. For example, whether a particular treatment is effective for a patient with a specific illness. This can influence decisions in clinical settings.
	Treatment options are presented. Systematic review is required for FQs other than GPS.
	Recommendations on treatment selection are given.
Recommendation classifications for FQs
Good practice statement (GPS)	Recommendations on topics that are so common that they cannot become a research theme and of which all medical personnel should be made aware
GRADE-based recommendation (GRADE)	Recommendations presented in accordance with the principles of the GRADE system. A systematic review is conducted, four factors (certainty of evidence, balance of benefits and harms, values and preferences, costs and resource utilization) based on the obtained evidence are taken into consideration, and recommendations are made in consultation with the committee.
Expert consensus-based recommendation (unGRADE)	Consensus made by experts for CQs for which a systematic review was conducted but had no target articles. Three factors (balance of expected benefits and harms, values and preferences, costs and resource utilization) are taken into consideration and recommendations are made in consultation with the committee.