Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34857574›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Current practices and challenges in adaptation of clinical guidelines: a qualitative study based on semistructured interviews.

Yang Song, Monica Ballesteros, Jing Li, Laura Martínez García, Ena Niño de Guzmán, Robin W M Vernooij, Elie A Akl, Francoise Cluzeau, Pablo Alonso-Coello

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Transitioning to adolescent and young adult or adult cancer survivorship care: A systematic review of contemporary guidelines and trials.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
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  10. Strengthening guideline contextualization in the WHO European Region.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yang SongIberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain yangsongcochrane@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-4094-1388
Monica BallesterosCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
Jing LiResearch Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain.
Laura Martínez GarcíaIberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-0126-8706
Ena Niño de GuzmánIberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
Robin W M VernooijDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-5734-4566
Elie A AklDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-3444-8618
Francoise CluzeauConsultant, London, UK.
Pablo Alonso-CoelloIberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-8001-8504

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aims to better understand the current practice of clinical guideline adaptation and identify challenges raised in this process, given that published adapted clinical guidelines are generally of low quality, poorly reported and not based on published frameworks.

designA qualitative study based on semistructured interviews. We conducted a framework analysis for the adaptation process, and thematic analysis for participants' views and experiences about adaptation process.

settingNine guideline development organisations from seven countries.

participantsGuideline developers who have adapted clinical guidelines within the last 3 years. We identified potential participants through published adapted clinical guidelines, recommendations from experts, and a review of the Guideline International Network Conference attendees' list.

resultsWe conducted ten interviews and identified nine adaptation methodologies. The reasons for adapting clinical guidelines include developing

conclusionsAdaptation processes have been increasingly used to develop clinical guidelines, with the emergence of different purposes. The identification of core steps and assessment levels could help guideline adaptation developers streamline their processes. More methodological research is needed to develop rigorous international standards for adapting clinical guidelines.

Indexed as

Qualitative ResearchHumansPractice Guidelines as Topicqualitative researchquality in health carestatistics & research methods

Identifiers

PMID34857574
PMCPMC8640632

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.