"Critical appraisal is the process of systematically examining research evidence to assess its validity, results, and relevance before using it to inform a decision."
Netsch, Debra S.; Kluesner, Jean A. (2009). Critical Appraisal of Clinical Guidelines. Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing, 37(5),470-473. doi: 10.1097/WON.0b013e3181edee71
While many groups develop practice guidelines, they do not necessarily reach the same conclusions and recommendations for practice. The following journal article and document provide guidance for the critical appraisal of practice guidelines.
Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II: The product of an international collaboration, the AGREE II Instrument is a generic tool designed to help both guideline developers and users assess the methodological quality of guidelines; provide a methodological strategy for the development of guidelines; and inform what information and how information ought to be reported in guidelines.