ArticleThe British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners2025
Competencies and clinical guidelines for managing acne with isotretinoin in general practice: a scoping review.
Article in The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Management of Acne in General Practice using Isotretinoin: A Scoping Review Protocol.HRB open research · 2026Article
- Isotretinoin: equal in name only?The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcne is a common, chronic, and burdensome disease. There is evidence of delayed and inequitable patient access to isotretinoin. Overuse of antibiotics in patients with acne raises antimicrobial stewardship concerns.
aimTo identify clinical practice guideline (CPG) and consensus statement recommendations regarding the clinical competencies required for prescribing oral isotretinoin for acne. DESIGN AND
settingThis was a scoping review of acne CPGs and consensus statements, globally.
methodThe Arksey and O'Malley framework informed design in conjunction with Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. The PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews guided reporting. The search was conducted across six databases (Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO), three guideline repositories (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, Guidelines International Network, Trip), and grey literature. Two researchers independently screened titles and abstracts, and full-text papers. The AGREE II checklist appraised CPG quality.
resultsFrom the initial 2292 articles, eight CPGs were included after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Five were from Europe, with one each from the US, Canada, and Malaysia. The CPG guidance varied regarding 'Which doctor may prescribe isotretinoin?' All CPGs indicated dermatologists and four identified GPs as appropriate prescribers. The CPGs identify the clinical competencies to safely manage people with acne using isotretinoin: dermatology, pregnancy prevention, mental health assessment, and blood testing.
conclusionThis scoping review has identified the key clinical competencies that underpin safe management of people with acne using isotretinoin: dermatology, pregnancy prevention, mental health assessment, and blood testing. Resourcing and supporting GPs to incrementally adopt this role may promote safe, timely, and equitable patient access to isotretinoin, while enhancing antimicrobial stewardship.
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Registered trials
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.