CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
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To assess the evidence for the effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in improving patient outcomes in primary care. ⋯ There is very little evidence that the use of CPGs improves patient outcomes in primary medical care, but most studies published to date have used older guidelines and methods, which may have been insensitive to small changes in outcomes. Research is needed to determine whether the newer, evidence-based CPGs have an effect on patient outcomes.