Introduction/Objective: To integrate Cochrane Systematic Reviews with the experience and expectations of parents and GPs in the development of clinical practice guidelines for acute respiratory infections (ARI) in young children.

Methods: General practitioners (GPs) and parents participated in the development of clinical practice guidelines for acute respiratory infections. These guidelines are being evaluated in a randomised controlled trial in Canberra, Australia. This trial is investigating antibiotic prescribing for ARI and other options for care and management of these illnesses. The process of guideline development incorporated separate focus groups with parents and GPs. Information from the focus groups progressively built on each other. In the first focus groups, parents explored their experiences of caring for young children with ARI and their expectations for medical care. In other focus groups, GPs then discussed this information with the evidence from Cochrane Systematic Reviews and other literature. Another round of parent focus groups incorporated the main points from the GPs' focus groups and the previous parents' groups. The cumulative outcomes from the parents' meetings and GPs' meetings were again fed back to the GPs for final guideline development.

Results: Separate clinical practice guidelines were developed for both parents and GPs. Feedback about the guideline development process from parents and GPs has identified it as a constructive experience that will improve home management and clinical practice. An evaluation of the process will be presented.

Discussion: Clinical practice guidelines were developed, based on the evidence from Cochrane Systematic Reviews and other literature, that take into account the realities of general practice in Australia and the expectations and preferences of consumers.