====== Protocol ======

In medicine, a protocol is a predefined set of [[step]]s and [[guideline]]s for conducting medical [[procedure]]s, [[treatment]]s, or [[clinical trial]]s. It ensures [[consistency]], [[accuracy]], and ethical standards in [[healthcare]] practices.
----
The [[study]] [[protocol]] is a document outlining the design of a study, describing the [[objective]]s, [[methodology]] and overall organization of the [[research]] to be carried out forming a [[template]] and guide to the research process as a whole.
----
[[Clinical protocol]], has a more specific meaning. It describes a [[method]] to be used in a [[clinical trial]] (e.g. of a drug or medical treatment) or a medical [[research]] study.

A set of rules is followed by providers such as EMTs or nurses. Often considered to be stricter than a [[guideline]], and to carry more weight with the law, but there is no hard evidence to support this view and the terms are usually used interchangeably.

====Examples====
see [[Stupp protocol]].