An overview of the GRADE approach and a peek at the future

The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach provides a clear interpretation of the quality of evidence for key stakeholders

In 2004, a group of international experts in methodology and practice guidelines first published the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach1 to assess the quality of evidence supporting medical interventions and develop recommendations. Since then, the group has published a six-part series for clinicians using GRADE guidelines,2 and a series of articles supporting systematic review authors and guideline groups using GRADE in their work.3