National practice guidelines

Practice guidelines are evidence-based recommendations developed to support informed decision making about service user care. They are based on a systematic review of the evidence base within a specific area, topic or condition. They are utilised by dietitians and other healthcare practitioners to make decisions on appropriate treatment/intervention or by policy makers.

Guidelines in the UK originate from several sources. Those most key within dietetics have been outlined below:

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

NICE is commissioned by the Department of Health to produce evidence-based guidance to support and improve health and social care.

The guidance they produce includes:

• NICE Guidelines; effectiveness and cost effectiveness across broad health, public health and social care topics
• Technology Appraisals Guidance; the clinical and cost effectiveness of new treatments
• Highly Specialised Technologies Guidance; clinical and cost effectiveness of highly specialist treatments
• Medical Technologies Guidance; clinical and cost effectiveness of new medical devices
• Diagnostics Guidance; clinical and cost effectiveness of new diagnostic technology
• Interventional Procedures Guidance; efficacy and safety of surgical and other procedures.

More information on all of the guidance produced by NICE can be found here.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN)

SIGN is part of the Evidence Directorate within Healthcare Improvement Scotland. They produce evidence based clinical guidelines to improve the quality of healthcare in Scotland.

More information on the clinical guidelines produced by SIGN can be found here.

BDA Specialist Groups

The BDA Specialist Groups provide dietetic leadership and expertise within their given specialism to members of the BDA and the profession, this includes the production of clinical practice guidelines, when a need is identified.

All practice guidelines produced by BDA Specialist Group practice guidelines should be published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (JHND). Published guidelines include:

McKenzie YA, Bowyer RK, Leach H, et al. British Dietetic Association systematic review and evidence-based practice guidelines for the dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults (2016 update). J Hum Nutr Diet 2016; 29: 549-575. 

Lomer CE, Wilson B, Wall C. British Dietetic Association consensus guidelines on the nutritional assessment and dietary management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. J Hum Nutr Diet 2022; 36: 336-377.

Naylor HL, Jackson H, Walker GH, et al. British Dietetic Association evidence-based guidelines for the protein requirements of adults undergoing maintenance haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. J Hum Nutr and Diet 2013; 26: 315-328.

For information on other guidelines produced by our specialist groups, visit the dedicated group webpage from the list here.

If your specialist group is interested in developing practice guidelines, you can visit our webpage here.

Other charities and organisations

Many other organisations and charities produce practice guidelines which will be specific to their profession, a particular condition or area. Examples include:

Diabetes UK

Heart UK

European Society of Cardiologists

For charities undertaking research, and in many cases, producing research papers and guidelines, you can search the ‘Charities Directory’.

Appraising Practice Guidelines

Similar to any other evidence you use in practice, national practice guidelines should be critically appraised. Considerations should be made for their development process, and the evidence used to determine the recommendations.

You can find more information regarding critical appraisal on our webpage here, including a useful template for appraising practice guidelines known as the AGREE II approach. You can also refer to Practice Based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN) which provides useful guidance on undertaking critical appraisal.

Useful Links