| Transparency: details on guideline development and funding are explicit and publicly accessible |
| Management of conflicts of interest: prior to finalizing guideline, panelists being considered for membership should declare all interests and activities potentially resulting in conflicts, and all conflicts should be minimized |
| Guideline group composition is multidisciplinary with methodological expertise and including patient and community involvement |
| Use of systematic reviews for guideline questions |
| Establishing evidence foundations for and rating strength of recommendations |
| Clear articulation of recommendations |
| External review by a full spectrum of stakeholders (e.g. scientific and clinical experts, patients and community representatives) |
