Preface ‘Good guidelines can only make you better’ [1]. ‘The challenge of scientific research is not to find answers, but to formulate the question.’ [2]. ‘Guideline development reveals the dilemmas and uncertainties associated with the application of medical knowledge. The guideline should not cover this up, but make it transparent, and link patient decision aids to preference sensitive recommendations.’ [3]. The above three propositions, cited from my supervisors have been published decades ago, but still underpin the urgency of this thesis. These statements not only show confidence in the profession of guideline development, but also enlighten ongoing challenges in guideline development methods. But foremost, these propositions inspire. They align with my experience as a guideline methodologist, in which I had, and have the opportunity to work with so many dedicated healthcare professionals and patient(representative)s, methodologists/process leads and guideline panel chairs, in whom I saw enthusiasm and expertise, but in whom I also saw their struggles in using the right ingredients in the right way to ‘cook the right guidelines’. It is my personal ambition to improve and facilitate guideline development methods - especially in the area of recommendations about healthcare related testing – and thereby to be able to contribute to the improvement of healthcare quality. Therefore, this thesis focuses on knowledge and tools that can help guideline developers (in the broadest sense) in appropriately developing recommendations about healthcare related testing. References 1. Burgers JS. Quality of clinical practice guidelines. Nijmegen: Catholic University Nijmegen; 2002. 2. Langendam MW. The impact of harm reduction-based methadone treatment on HIV infection and mortality. Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam; 2000. 3. Van der Weijden T. Richtlijnen in de spreekkamer, van dogma naar dans. Maastricht: Maastricht University; 2010.
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