The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II Instrument (AGREE II) was developed to enhance the methodological rigor of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), aiming to generate trustworthy recommendations for various clinical scenarios. Despite its importance, there exists a gap in the quality of CPGs pertaining to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS-TEN). The aim of the study was to evaluate SJS-TEN CPGs to shed light on areas for enhancing SJS-TEN guidelines' quality.

A systematic review was conducted to identify SJS-TEN CPGs from January 2011 to December 2023 across bibliographic and guideline databases, as well as dermatology association websites. Four reviewers employed the AGREE II instrument to appraise the quality of eligible CPGs. Subsequently, AGREE II domain scores were calculated and their recommendations mapped.

Seven eligible SJS-TEN CPGs reviewed, originating from Europe, North America, Asia, and an authorship Group. The highest AGREE II domain scores were observed in scope and purpose (mean: 63%, standard deviation [SD]: 23.195%) and clarity of presentation (mean: 70%, SD: 14.5%). Conversely, the lowest score was noted in the applicability domain (mean: 28%, SD: 17.44%). Only two guidelines by the British Association of Dermatologists (28.6%) met the 'recommend' level. Recommendations from all CPGs were compared in tabular form.

This study aims to establish the best evidence for the rehabilitation management of urinary incontinence (UI) in patients with orthotopic neobladder (ONB) following radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer, providing a theoretical foundation for clinical practice.

A systematic search was conducted across evidence-based databases, guideline networks, and professional association websites to identify relevant literature on rehabilitation management for patients with ONB after bladder cancer surgery. Studies published in both English and Chinese, up to May 8, 2024, were included. Trained researchers assessed the quality of the literature and summarized the evidence.

Fourteen documents were included, consisting of eight guidelines, two clinical decision documents, and four expert consensus reports. A total of 43 pieces of evidence were identified, covering seven key areas: preoperative UI assessment and counseling, preventive measures, UI assessment and diagnosis, conservative treatments, selection and use of nursing equipment, evaluation of effectiveness, and follow-up care.

The best evidence for UI rehabilitation management after ONB for bladder cancer can help standardize patient care and clinical practices. Healthcare providers should adapt this evidence to their local healthcare settings, cultural contexts, barriers, and patient preferences.

This study was conducted following the evidence summary reporting specifications of the Fudan University Center for Evidence-Based Nursing (Registration No. ES20244165).

To identify risk factors for seizure in pregnant women, and in the general population with epilepsy.

Umbrella review of clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews on risk factors or prediction models for seizure occurrence in pregnant women with epilepsy, adults with epilepsy, or all individuals with epilepsy. Guidelines or systematic reviews exclusively for children were excluded. We searched MEDLINE, Emcare, Embase, CINAHL, TRIP PRO, Epistemonikos, World Health Organisation, Guideline International Network, DANS, and grey literature (2000-2023) without language restrictions. Risk factors or predictors listed in the final guidelines or systematic reviews were collated and thematically analysed.

From 3406 citations, we included 13 articles (ten guidelines, three systematic reviews) reporting 26 risk factors in pregnant women and the general adult population with epilepsy: eight factors in guidelines for pregnant women only; five in both pregnant women and general adult populations (four in both guidelines and systematic reviews, one in guidelines only); and 13 factors in the general adult population (four in both guidelines and systematic reviews, eight in guidelines, and one in a systematic review). Risk factors were categorised into five broad themes: seizure type; seizure control; anti-seizure medication; neurological; and epilepsy and medical history. Three risk factors for seizure ocurrence were cited in more than two guidelines or systematic reviews: seizure freedom (reduced risk), immediate initiation of anti-seizure medication after first seizure (reduced risk), and abnormal electroencephalogram (increased risk). Three risk factors were linked to a more than two-fold chance of seizures in pregnant women with epilepsy: tonic-clonic seizures in the last three months (RR 7.20, 95% CI 6.63-11.93), a history of non-tonic-clonic seizures (RR 2.11, 95% CI 1.88-2.62), and seizures in the pre-pregnancy year compared to no seizures (RR 3.51, 95% CI 3.13-3.94).

Multiple risk factors have been recommended for use in practice across different guidelines and reviews to identify those at increased risk of seizures in the adult population with epilepsy, and specifically in pregnant women with epilepsy. Further research is needed on the implementation of tools for predicting seizures to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Developing and disseminating clinical practice guidelines is a common strategy used to inform practice and address evidence-to-practice gaps that are prominent in transfusion medicine. Despite a highly systematic method for synthesizing evidence into guideline recommendations, comparatively little attention is paid to the real-world implementation of the recommendations in routine practice. A more scientific approach drawing on learnings from the field of implementation science is therefore warranted.

In this article, we propose a methodological roadmap to embed implementation science principles, frameworks, and methods to facilitate the development and uptake of transfusion medicine guidelines. We draw upon research undertaken in partnership with the International Collaboration of Transfusion Medicine Guidelines (ICTMG) to illustrate the roadmap in action.

The methodological roadmap constitutes five steps which have been matched to existing processes for developing and implementing clinical practice guidelines: (1) environmental scan; (2) detailing who needs to do what differently, per guideline recommendation; (3) barriers and enablers assessment; (4) tailoring implementation strategies to identified barriers and enablers; and (5) implementation and evaluation of implementation strategies. For each step, we define the key concepts and methods involved, and share examples from work done with ICTMG to support transfusion medicine guideline implementation.

We intend this methodological roadmap for clinicians, researchers, and organizations involved in supporting clinical practice guideline use. Informed by principles, frameworks, and methods from implementation science, the roadmap can provide a more structured, transparent, and replicable approach to improve the implementation of guideline recommendations in transfusion medicine.

Pre-participation evaluation (PPE) aims to support safe participation in sports. The goal of this systematic review was to aggregate evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for the PPE of recreational or competitive athletes as preparation for developing a German guideline on this subject.

Five databases, including MEDLINE, were searched in August 2022, complemented by searches on the websites of relevant guideline organisations and specialty medical associations and citation screening. We included guidelines/consensus statements with recommendations for PPE of adult recreational athletes or competitive athletes of any age, excluding those with certain chronic illnesses. We extracted and synthesised data in a structured manner and appraised quality using selected domains of the AGREE-II tool.

From the 6611 records found, we included 35 documents. Overall, the quality of the included documents was low. Seven documents (20%) made recommendations on the entire PPE process, while the remainder focussed on cardiovascular screening (16/35, 45.7%) or other topics. We extracted 305 recommendations. Of these, 11.8% (36/305) applied to recreational athletes and 88.2% (269/305) applied to athletes in organised or competitive sports. A total of 12.8% (39/305) of recommendations were directly linked to evidence from primary studies.

Many recommendations exist for PPE, but only a few are evidence based. The lack of primary studies evaluating the effects of screening on health outcomes may have led to this lack of evidence-based guidelines and contributed to poor rigour in guideline development. Future guidelines/consensus statements require a more robust evidence base, and reporting should improve.

PROSPERO CRD42022355112.

Exposure to workplace chemicals can pose serious risks to reproductive health. The European Union's Pregnant Workers Directive requires risk assessments but lacks clear guidelines for assessing chemical reproductive hazards in workplaces.

This study aims to review how EU member states implement the Pregnant Workers Directive by analysing national guidance documents and relevant literature.

A qualitative review was conducted, combining a systematic literature search with outreach to EU national experts to gather relevant guidance documents. Thematic synthesis identified guiding principles for implementing maternity protection for chemical exposures.

Two main themes were identified: the need for a broad perspective and for certainty in risk assessment. The broad perspective stresses the importance of considering all reproductive hazards, not limited to those listed in the EU Directive and inclusion of male workers and the preconception period, and the potential adverse socio-economic consequences of applied protective measures. The need for certainty highlights the challenges in reliable risk assessments, due to lack of knowledge about chemicals' hazardous properties, dose-response relationships and the level of worker exposure. These themes reveal the complexity of implementing effective maternity protection and the need for improved guidelines across the EU.

This study calls for a unified approach to reproductive health protection, extending beyond pregnancy to include also preconception and paternal exposures. The findings highlight the need to support practitioners in the risk assess process at workplaces in the EU by providing a framework for the assessment of reproductive hazards and determining protective measures.

 Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are rare congenital anomalies that involve the anus, rectum, and oftentimes the genitourinary tract. The management of ARM patients is complex, and many controversies exist. To address this issue, the European Reference Network eUROGEN for rare and complex urogenital conditions aimed to develop comprehensive guidelines for the management of ARM.

 The Dutch Quality Standard for ARM served as the basis for the development of guidelines applicable on a European level. Literature was searched in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. The ADAPTE method was utilized to incorporate the newest available evidence. A panel of 15 experts from 7 European countries assessed currency, acceptability, and applicability of recommendations. Recommendations from the Dutch Quality Standard were adapted, adopted, or rejected, and recommendations were formed considering current evidence and/or expert consensus.

 Prenatal and neonatal diagnostic workup as well as postsurgical follow-up of anorectal, genitourinary tract, and neurologic system were reviewed. Seven new studies were identified. The panel adapted 13 recommendations, adopted 7, and developed 8 de novo. The availability of high-quality evidence was limited, and most recommendations were based on retrospective studies, case series, or expert opinion.

 Patients with ARM and their families require highly specialized and comprehensive care from the prenatal period to adulthood. This guideline provides recommendations for a comprehensive diagnostic workup of children with ARM throughout their life that is applicable on a European level.

 Being born with an anorectal malformation (ARM) can have profound and lifelong implications for patients and parents. Organization of care and communication between health care providers is an overlooked area of patient care. The European Reference Network eUROGEN for rare and complex urogenital conditions assembled a panel of experts to address these challenges and develop comprehensive guidelines for the management of ARM.

 The Dutch Quality Standard for ARM served as the basis for the development of guidelines. Literature was searched in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. The ADAPTE method was utilized to incorporate the newest available evidence. A panel of 15 experts from seven European countries assessed currency, acceptability, and applicability of recommendations. Recommendations from the Dutch Quality Standard were adapted, adopted, or rejected and recommendations were formed considering all available evidence, expert consensus, and the European context.

 Aspects pertaining to organization of care, patient/parent/health care provider communication, and referral and collaboration between providers caring for ARM patients were assessed. Two new studies were identified. In total, the panel adapted 12 recommendations, adopted 7, and developed 2 de novo. The overall level of newly found evidence was considered low and most recommendations were based on expert opinion.

 Collaborative care and organization of care are gaining importance in the field of ARM. This guideline gives practical guidance on how to achieve better communication and collaboration between all involved parties, applicable at the European level.

The birth process involves biopsychosocial aspects, the identification of which has been little researched. This systematic review aims to identify biopsychosocial aspects of interventions during physiological birth in first-time mothers and to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on birth outcomes.A systematic guideline search resulted in the definition of a physiological birth of first-time mothers with a singleton from the cephalic position at 37+0 to 42+0 weeks' gestation. A systematic literature search assessed intervention studies for evidence quality using the GRADE methodology. Structured content analysis according to Mayring was used to identify biopsychosocial aspects.18 bio-organic, psychological and sociological aspects were identified from 20 studies. The quality of evidence was mostly low to very low due to inadequate reporting of fetal and maternal outcomes and characteristics. Moderate confidence was shown for midwifery care and aromatherapy in increasing spontaneous labor, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in improving satisfaction, subjective pain perception and APGAR score. Identified biopsychosocial aspects enable a multidimensional assessment of physiological birth and could lead to a biopsychosocial care model. Insufficient quality of evidence does not allow the derivation of specific interventions. Studies in obstetrics should use defined endpoints and characteristics to improve the quality of evidence.

Inpatient hyperglycemia is common among adults, and management varies.

To systematically identify guidelines on inpatient hyperglycemia management.

MEDLINE, Guidelines International Network, and specialty society websites were searched from 1 January 2010 to 14 August 2024.

Clinical practice guidelines pertaining to blood glucose management in hospitalized adults were included.

Two authors screened articles and extracted data, and three assessed guideline quality. Recommendations on inpatient monitoring, treatment targets, medications, and care transitions were collected.

Guidelines from 10 organizations met inclusion criteria, and 5 were assessed to be of high quality per the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. All guidelines recommended monitoring blood glucose for patients with diabetes and nine for admission hyperglycemia. Eight guidelines recommended an upper blood glucose target of 180 mg/dL, five with a lower limit of 100 mg/dL and three of 140 mg/dL. Guidelines were in agreement on using capillary blood glucose monitoring, and three guidelines included discussion of continuous monitoring. Hyperglycemia treatment with basal-bolus insulin alone (n = 3) or with correction (n = 5) was most commonly recommended, while sliding scale insulin was advised against (n = 5). Guidance on use of oral diabetes medications was inconsistent. Five guidelines included discussion of transitioning to home medications. Recommendations for hypoglycemia management and diabetes management in older adults were largely limited to outpatient guidance.

Non-English-language guidelines were excluded.

While there is consensus on inpatient blood glucose monitoring and use of basal-bolus insulin, there is disagreement on treatment targets and use of home medications and little guidance on how to transition treatment at discharge.

 Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are complex congenital anomalies of the anorectal region, oftentimes also affecting the genitourinary system. Although successful surgical correction can often be achieved in the neonatal period, many children will experience functional problems in the long term. The European Reference Network for rare and complex urogenital conditions (eUROGEN) assembled a panel of experts to address these challenges and develop comprehensive guidelines for the management of ARM.

 The Dutch Quality Standard for ARM served as the foundation for the development of guidelines applicable on a European level. Literature was searched in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. The ADAPTE method was utilized to incorporate the newest available evidence. A panel of 15 experts from 7 European countries assessed currency, acceptability, and applicability of recommendations. Recommendations from the Dutch Quality Standard were adapted, adopted, or rejected and recommendations were formed considering the current evidence and/or expert consensus.

 Lifelong follow-up, integration, and transition of care were assessed. A total of eight new studies were identified. The panel adapted 18 recommendations, adopted 6, and developed 6 de novo. Overall, the level of evidence was considered low.

 Successful lifelong follow-up and transition of care require a dedicated team of pediatric and adult specialist and an individually tailored patient-centered approach. This guideline summarizes the best available evidence on follow-up of ARM patients and provides guidance for the development of structured transition programs.

Development of evidence-based guidelines for keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx).

Keratorefractive lenticule extraction refers to various corneal refractive procedures involving removal of refractive lenticules of intrastromal corneal tissue, typically through a small incision, eliminating creation of a corneal flap. This technique has gained popularity rapidly; however, no clinical practice guidelines exist.

These evidence-based guidelines were developed following the World Health Organization guidebook using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool and adhering to the Reporting Items for Practice Guideline in Healthcare statement. The body of evidence was drawn from 8 literature databases, 5 clinical guideline databases, and 2 academic organizations. Recommendations were developed via a Delphi consensus of 44 global experts in refractive surgery, cornea, retina, glaucoma, and optometry. The certainty of evidence, balance of benefits and harms, patient preferences and values, and economic evaluations were considered fully. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was used to assess evidence quality and recommendation strengths.

From 385 initial clinical questions, 15 were identified, prompting a review of 250 717 studies, with 609 included for conducting and updating 26 and 2 systematic reviews, respectively. Subsequently, consensus was reached on 38 recommendations for preoperative screening, candidate selection, intraoperative quality control, operating principles, postoperative monitoring, and complication management. For KLEx, an effective and accurate refractive correction is attributed to various factors such as corneal thickness, degree of myopia, treatment nomogram, and optical zone. For complications that could affect vision, comprehensive and effective management strategies were proposed, particularly for wrong-plane dissection and difficult lenticule removal, suction loss, and perioperative infection. Customized surgical planning protocols and operative techniques were analyzed. Among all recommendations, 29 (76%) were labelled as strong, each externally reviewed. The corneal biomechanical properties may help to improve safety and predictability, although they need further validation. Several research gaps for enhancing KLEx safety were also revealed.

These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for KLEx in clinical practice, such as for preoperative screening for keratoconus, surgical planning, and management and prevention of complications and infection. The guidelines are expected to minimize the complications and achieve better outcomes.

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

While several clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) exist to guide clinical decision-making in patients with generalized cancer pain, to date there has been no comprehensive review of their quality. Our aim was to address this deficiency via the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool.

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline-based systematic literature search followed by AGREE II appraisal of identified CPGs.

Embase, MEDLINE via PubMed, and Scopus were searched from inception to March 3, 2021, for relevant CPGs. Four authors (FR, AR, JN, JH) independently performed assessments and evaluations of the selected CPGs using the AGREE II instrument. Scaled domain percentage scores were calculated with 60% as the satisfactory quality threshold. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were also calculated to assess interrater reliability.

Twelve guidelines were selected for inclusion. Two guidelines were classified high quality, three guidelines as average quality, and seven as low quality. Domains of clarity of presentation (82.41% ± 18.20%) and scope and purpose (56.48% ± 30.59%) received the highest mean scores, while domains of applicability (44.53% ± 26.61%) and stakeholder involvement (36.81% ± 21.24%) received the lowest. ICCs showed high consistency between reviewers (range 0.85-0.98).

Most CPGs for generalized cancer pain are of low quality. Future guidelines can be improved by better-defining scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, applicability, and editorial independence during development.

We hope these critiques improve the quality of published guidelines to promote an improved quality of care and method to measure quality outcomes.

Recommendations on Early Childhood Allergy Prevention (ECAP) are found in Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG). This synthesis of guidelines aims to compare the methodological quality and content of recommendations in CPGs and FBDGs for ECAP. We searched MEDLINE, the FAO directory of FBDGs and other guideline databases, including the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF), the WHO and the Guideline International Networks database on clinical guidelines (GIN) for CPGs and FBDGs about ECAP and child nutrition. Guidelines had to be published from 2010 onwards, target infants or pregnant/breastfeeding women and contain recommendations on primary preventative interventions to decrease the onset of IgE-mediated allergies, including atopic eczema or asthma. We retrieved a sample of 36 guidelines (23 CPGs, 13 FBDGs) and assessed their methodological quality with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool (AGREE) II. On a subset of recommendations, we performed an in-depth analysis by the type of intervention for direction and strength of recommendation and level of evidence. Descriptive analysis was conducted with SPSS 27. CPGs score higher than FBDGs in most AGREE domains (3, 4, 5 and 6). The 36 guidelines contain 287 recommendations on ECAP, with 70 addressing the introduction of complementary foods and common allergens. We found only slight differences between those recommendations in CPGs and FBDGs. FBDGs on ECAP are of lower quality than CPGs. This does not affect their recommendations on the introduction of complementary foods and common allergens but may compromise their trustworthiness.

 Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are rare birth defects affecting the anorectum and oftentimes the genitourinary region. The management of ARM patients is complex and requires highly specialized surgical and medical care. The European Reference Network eUROGEN for rare and complex urogenital conditions aimed to develop comprehensive guidelines for the management of ARM applicable on a European level.

 The Dutch Quality Standard for ARM served as the basis for the development of guidelines. Literature was searched in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. The ADAPTE method was utilized to incorporate the newest available evidence. A panel of 15 experts from seven European countries assessed currency, acceptability, and applicability of recommendations. Recommendations from the Dutch Quality Standard were adapted, adopted, or rejected and recommendations were formed considering the current evidence, expert opinion, and the European context.

 Surgical and medical treatment of ARM, postoperative instructions, toilet training, and management of fecal and urinary incontinence were addressed. Seven new studies were identified. The panel adapted 23 recommendations, adopted 3, and developed 8 de novo. The overall level of newly found evidence was considered low.

 Treatment of ARM patients requires a multidisciplinary team and expertise about anatomical and surgical aspects of the disease, as well as long-term follow-up. This guideline offers recommendations for surgical and medical treatment of ARM and associated complications, according to the best available evidence and applicable on a European level.

To examine the relationship between postpartum physical activity and maternal postnatal cardiometabolic health, breastfeeding, injury, and infant growth and development.

Systematic review with random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Eight online databases were searched up until 12 January 2024.

Studies of all designs in all languages were eligible (except case studies and reviews) if they contained information on the population (postpartum people), intervention (frequency, intensity, duration, volume, or type of exercise, alone ('exercise-only') or in combination with other intervention components (eg, dietary; 'exercise+co-intervention'), comparator (no or low volumes of physical activity), and outcomes: hypertension, diabetes, cardiometabolic risk factors (systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, and triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), glucose and insulin concentration), breastfeeding (breast milk quality and volume), infant growth (length and weight) and development, or postpartum injury.

46 unique studies (n=8766 participants) from 20 countries were included. Moderate certainty of evidence showed exercise+co-interventions reduced the odds of developing diabetes by 28% (7 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), n=2496; OR 0.72 95% CI 0.54, 0.98, I2 12%), reduced SBP (10 RCTs, n=2753; mean difference (MD) -2.15 95% CI -3.89 to -0.40, I2 73%) and DBP (9 RCTs, n=2575; MD -1.38 95% CI -2.60 to -0.15, I2 66%) compared with controls. Infant growth and development, breast milk quality and quantity, and risk of injury were not different between exercise and control groups.

Physical activity improves cardiometabolic health without adversely impacting breast milk supply or quality, infant growth or maternal injury.

To examine the impact of exercise on musculoskeletal pain (low back pain (LBP), pelvic girdle pain (PGP), lumbopelvic pain (LBPP) and bodily pain) and kinesiophobia during the postpartum period.

Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis.

Online databases were searched from database inception to 12 January 2024. Studies of all designs (except case studies) of any publication date or language were included if they contained information on the population (women and people in the first year postpartum), intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise, alone ('exercise-only') or in combination with other interventions (eg, electrotherapy, infrared irradiation, ultrasound; 'exercise+cointervention')), comparator (no exercise or different exercise measures) and outcome (symptom severity of LBP/PGP/LBPP, related disability, bodily pain and kinesiophobia).

37 studies (N=3769 participants) from 15 countries were included. Moderate certainty evidence showed that exercise-only interventions, including various strengthening exercises targeting the trunk muscles, were associated with a greater reduction in LBPP symptom severity (4 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), n=210; mean difference -2.21 points (on a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale) 95% CI -3.33 to -1.08) and related disability (6 RCTs, n=296; standardised mean difference -1.17, 95% CI -1.92 to -0.43; large effect size) as compared with no exercise. Similar results were found for bodily pain (2 RCTs, n=318). Evidence was limited and inconclusive regarding the impact of exercise interventions on kinesiophobia.

Postnatal exercises, including a variety of muscular strengthening exercises targeting the trunk muscles, decrease the symptom severity of LBPP and related disability.

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between postpartum exercise and maternal postpartum anthropometrics.

Systematic review with random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Online databases were searched from database inception until 12 January 2024. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) written in any language were eligible if they contained information on the population (postpartum women and people); intervention (frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise, alone ('exercise-only') or in combination with other interventions (eg, dietary; 'exercise+cointervention')); comparator (no exercise) and outcomes (anthropometric measures including weight, postpartum weight retention (PPWR), body mass index (BMI), fat mass, lean body mass (LBM), body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference or waist-hip ratio).

64 RCTs (n=12 684 participants) from 20 countries were included. Moderate to high certainty of evidence showed that exercise-only interventions reduced weight by 1.34 kg (18 studies, n=771; 95% CI -2.06 to -0.61, I2 0%), BMI by 0.73 kg/m2 (14 studies, n=662; 95% CI -1.21 to -0.25, I2 60%) and fat mass by 1.55 kg (5 studies, n=135; 95% CI -3.01 to -0.09, I2 0%) compared with no exercise. The duration of the exercise interventions ranged from 3 months to 3 years. Dose-response analysis found 560 MET-min/week of exercise (eg, 120 min/week of brisk walking) was associated with 1 kg/m2 reduction in BMI. Low certainty of evidence showed that exercise-only interventions had no effect on LBM (5 RCTs, n=135; standardised mean difference -0.13; 95% CI -0.48, 0.21, I2 0%) compared with no exercise.

These findings highlight physical activity as an effective intervention to improve postpartum anthropometrics and reduce PPWR.

CRD42022359282.

To examine the effect of exercise during the first year postpartum on pelvic floor disorders and diastasis recti abdominis.

Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis.

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscuss, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched until 12 January 2024.

Studies of all designs (except case studies) and languages were included if they contained information on the Population (individuals in the first year postpartum), Intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise alone ('exercise-only') or in combination with other intervention (eg, biofeedback; 'exercise+co-intervention')), Comparator (no exercise or different exercise measures) and Outcome (symptom severity and risk of urinary incontinence, anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, diastasis recti abdominis and sexual function).

65 studies (n=21 334 participants) from 24 countries were included. 'Moderate' certainty of evidence revealed that pelvic floor muscle training reduced the odds of urinary incontinence by 37% (seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs), n=1930; OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.97, I2 72%) and pelvic organ prolapse by 56% (one RCT, n=123; OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.91) compared with control groups. 'Low' certainty of evidence showed a greater reduction in inter-rectus distance measured at rest and during a head lift following abdominal muscle training compared with no exercise. Evidence on the effect of exercise on the risk of anal incontinence and diastasis recti abdominis, as well as the severity of anal incontinence, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and sexual function, is limited.

Evidence supports the effectiveness of postpartum pelvic floor muscle training in reducing the odds of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse and postpartum abdominal exercise training in reducing inter-rectus distance.

CRD42022359282.

To examine the influence of postpartum exercise on maternal depression and anxiety.

Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Online databases up to 12 January 2024, reference lists, recommended studies and hand searches.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised interventions of any publication date or language were included if they contained information on the Population (postpartum people), Intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume, type, or mode of delivery of exercise), Comparator (no exercise or different exercise measures), and Outcome (postpartum depression, anxiety prevalence, and/or symptom severity).

A total of 35 studies (n=4072) were included. Moderate certainty evidence from RCTs showed that exercise-only interventions reduced the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms (19 RCTs, n=1778, SMD: -0.52, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.24, I2=86%, moderate effect size) and anxiety symptoms (2 RCTs, n=513, SMD: -0.25, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.08, I2=0%, small effect size), and the odds of postpartum depression by 45% (4 RCTs, n=303 OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.95, I2=0%) compared with no exercise. No included studies assessed the impact of postpartum exercise on the odds of postpartum anxiety. To achieve at least a moderate reduction in the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms, postpartum individuals needed to accumulate at least 350 MET-min/week of exercise (eg, 80 min of moderate intensity exercise such as brisk walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling or resistance training).

Postpartum exercise reduced the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and the odds of postpartum depression.

The goal of evidence-based medicine is to make clinical decisions based on the best available, relevant evidence. For this to be possible, studies such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are widely considered to provide the best evidence of all forms of primary research, must be visible and have an impact on clinical practice guidelines. We further investigated the impact of publicly and commercially sponsored RCTs on clinical practice guidelines by measuring direct and indirect impactful citations and the time to guideline impact.

We considered the sample from the IMPACT study, where a total of 691 RCTs (120 German investigator-initiated trials (IITs), 200 international IITs, 171 German industry-sponsored trials (ISTs) and 200 international ISTs) was sampled from registries (DFG-/BMBF-Websites, the German Clinical Trials Register, and from ClinicalTrials.gov) and followed prospectively. First, all eligible IITs were sampled. Then, ISTs were randomly selected while ensuring balance across certain trial characteristics. Next, the corresponding publications in the form of original research articles were identified. A search was then conducted for (1) systematic reviews (SRs) citing these articles and (2) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) that cited either the original articles or the SRs. The methods and results of this effort were already published. In this investigation we aimed to better characterize the impact of RCTs in CPGs. Therefore, we identified all citations of the original articles and SRs in the citing CPGs and classified them into impactful and non-impactful. This allowed us to calculate an estimate for the guideline impact of a trial. In addition, we estimated the time-to-guideline-impact, defined as the time to a direct and indirect impactful citation in a CPG. Direct means that the publication of a trial was cited in the main text of a CPG. Indirect means that the publication was cited and included in the findings of a SR and the SR was cited in the main text of a CPG. We also investigated to what extent pre-defined study characteristics influenced the guideline impact using multivariable negative binomial regression as well as the time-to-guideline impact using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.

Overall, 22% of RCTs impacted a CPG. For international ISTs, only 15% of trials had an impact in CPGs. Overall, of the 405 associated guidelines, 331 were impacted. Larger trials were associated with more impactful main text citations in CPGs and earlier time-to-guideline impact, while international industry-sponsored trials were associated with smaller impact on CPGs and longer time-to-guideline impact. IITs funded by governmental bodies in Germany reached an impact on CPGs that is on par with German ISTs or international IITs and ISTs.

This study demonstrated that a considerable number of trials previously identified as being linked to CPGs have had impact in those CPGs (85%). International ISTs seem to have a lower impact on CPGs, and fewer of them influence CPGs at all.

In adult patients undergoing colonoscopy for any indication (screening, surveillance, follow-up of positive faecal immunochemical testing, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as blood in the stools) what are the benefits and harms of computer-aided detection (CADe)?

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death globally, typically arises from adenomatous polyps. Detection and removal of polyps during colonoscopy can reduce the risk of cancer. CADe systems use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist endoscopists by analysing real-time colonoscopy images to detect potential polyps. Despite their increasing use in clinical practice, guideline recommendations that carefully balance all patient-important outcomes remain unavailable. In this first iteration of a living guideline, we address the use of CADe at the level of an individual patient.

Evidence for this recommendation is drawn from a living systematic review of 44 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving more than 30 000 participants and a companion microsimulation study simulating 10 year follow-up for 100 000 individuals aged 60-69 years to assess the impact of CADe on patient-important outcomes. While no direct evidence was found for critical outcomes of colorectal cancer incidence and post-colonoscopy cancer incidence, low certainty data from the trials indicate that CADe may increase positive endoscopy findings. The microsimulation modelling, however, suggests little to no effect on CRC incidence, CRC-related mortality, or colonoscopy-related complications (perforation and bleeding) over the 10 year follow-up period, although low certainty evidence indicates CADe may increase the number of colonoscopies performed per patient. A review of values and preferences identified that patients value mortality reduction and quality of care but worry about increased anxiety, overdiagnosis, and more frequent surveillance.

For adults who have agreed to undergo colonoscopy, we suggest against the routine use of CADe (weak recommendation).

An international panel, including three patient partners, 11 healthcare providers, and seven methodologists, deemed by MAGIC and The BMJ to have no relevant competing interests, developed this recommendation. For this guideline the panel took an individual patient approach. The panel started by defining the clinical question in PICO format, and prioritised outcomes including CRC incidence and mortality. Based on the linked systematic review and microsimulation study, the panel sought to balance the benefits, harms, and burdens of CADe and assumed patient preferences when making this recommendation UNDERSTANDING THE RECOMMENDATION: The guideline panel found the benefits of CADe on critical outcomes, such as CRC incidence and post-colonoscopy cancer incidence, over a 10 year follow up period to be highly uncertain. Low certainty evidence suggests little to no impact on CRC-related mortality, while the potential burdens-including more frequent surveillance colonoscopies-are likely to affect many patients. Given the small and uncertain benefits and the likelihood of burdens, the panel issued a weak recommendation against routine CADe use.The panel acknowledges the anticipated variability in values and preferences among patients and clinicians when considering these uncertain benefits and potential burdens. In healthcare settings where CADe is available, individual decision making may be appropriate.

This is the first iteration of a living practice guideline. The panel will update this living guideline if ongoing evidence surveillance identifies new CADe trial data that substantially alters our conclusions about CRC incidence, mortality, or burdens, or studies that increase our certainty in values and preferences of individual patients. Updates will provide recommendations on the use of CADe from a healthcare systems perspective (including resource use, acceptability, feasibility, and equity), as well as the combined use of CADe and computer aided diagnosis (CADx). Users can access the latest guideline version and supporting evidence on MAGICapp, with updates periodically published in The BMJ.

Induction chemotherapy (ICT), a new standard in the management of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), is increasingly used in endemic regions. Radiation therapy (RT) target volume delineation protocols and dose level prescriptions vary significantly in the literature. High-level evidence to support a particular approach is currently lacking. We developed an international consensus guideline toward harmonizing practices based on a literature review and expert opinion.

The study entailed the following: consensus scope definition by focus group discussion (FGD); evidence gap identification by a scoping review of guidelines and literature reviews; evidence review and synthesis by a systematic review of experimental and observational studies and drafting of consensus statements by FGD; and consensus voting by modified Delphi process and FGD. The task force consisted of radiation oncologists from intermediate- and high-endemicity regions with expertise in treating NPC, evidence review, and consensus guideline development. The consensus panel consisted of relevant specialists from intermediate- and high-endemicity regions or with expertise in treating NPC. A modified e-Delphi method was used.

Four clinical situations after ICT for patients with NPC were selected for the consensus questions: optimal timing of chemoradiation; optimal imaging modalities for simulation and target volume delineation; optimal dose and fractionation; and RT target volume delineation. The consensus panel consisted of radiation oncologists (12), clinical oncologists (4), radiologists (3), a nuclear medicine specialist, medical physicists (2), and dosimetrists (2). The consensus guidelines were formulated after 2 rounds of Delphi voting and FGD; iterative revisions were made based on 2 rounds of internal review. The guidelines were subjected to external review and open commentary; further revisions were made if the consensus vote was not invalidated.

An international consensus guideline on delineating RT target volumes and corresponding dose levels in post-ICT NPC, as well as timing and modalities for imaging, was developed to help harmonize practices and enhance the comparability of interpretations of reported outcomes.

To compare the SVS/AVF/AVLS and the ESVS revised CPGs for treatment of C2 VVs by an analysis of content, methodologic, level of evidence and strength of evidence as well as by AGREE II analysis.

The 2022 SVS/AVF/AVLS (A) guidelines for VVs were compared to the 2022 ESVS (E) CPGs on VVs for: specific methodology, evidence development [ED], strength of recommendation (SOR), and level (quality) of evidence (LOE). Additionally, an AGREE II analysis was performed to compare the two guidelines. These guidelines were scored on 6 different domains as well as overall quality using a 7-point Likert scale according to the AGREE II methodology.

The two CPGs differed in methodology and scope of content. The two guidelines varied significantly on their ratings of levels of evidence as well as their overall strengths of recommendations. The AGREE II analysis found that both guidelines scored as high quality in the domains of scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigour of development, clarity of presentation, editorial independence, and overall assessment. For the domain of applicability, ESVS (65.28%) scored significantly higher than SVS/AVF/AVLS guideline (51.39%), p=<.05.

Although the methodology differed significantly between both guidelines, the overall conclusions remained similar and both guidelines were rated as high quality by AGREE II analysis.

This consensus aims to provide guidance for postpartum women and people, healthcare providers and exercise professionals on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep throughout the first year postpartum. The development of this guideline followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument. The Guideline Consensus Panel consisted of representatives from key professional groups, researchers and methodological experts. Literature was retrieved through searches of 12 online databases, and articles on maternal physical activity, sedentary behaviour or sleep in the first year after childbirth were eligible for inclusion if they reported on any of 21 maternal or infant health outcomes, which were prioritised considering the preferences and values of postpartum individuals. There was no restriction on language, and all study designs were eligible except for case studies. The certainty of evidence was rated using GRADE. This evidence review produced seven systematic reviews, which informed this consensus statement. A Delphi process was conducted to identify relative contraindications to postpartum moderate-intensity to vigorous-intensity physical activity, which informed the development of the Get Active Questionnaire for Postpartum. Evidence to decision tables were developed, and feedback on the recommendations was solicited from end users (healthcare providers, exercise professionals, researchers, policy organisations and postpartum women and people). Adhering to these consensus recommendations for postpartum women and people is likely to result in large improvements in psychological well-being, as well as pelvic, musculoskeletal and cardiometabolic health, and reduced fatigue, while not experiencing adverse events (moderate certainty evidence). Most end users indicated that following these recommendations would be feasible, acceptable and equitable, and likely to require minimal resources from individual and health systems perspectives. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022359282.

Domestic violence is a public health concern and human rights violation affecting more than one-third of all pregnant women globally. Abused pregnant women need several interventions to reduce domestic violence and its negative consequences on mother and child. The purpose of this study was to determine the quality, scope, and consistency of clinical guidelines for managing domestic violence during pregnancy.

This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Electronic databases of Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Up-to-date, Cochrane Library database, Google Scholar, and Guideline repositories, including NICE, SIGN, GAC, NHMRC, NGC, New Zealand Guidelines Group, TRIP, AHRQ, G-I-N, and MD Consult, using appropriate keywords were searched. Included studies were clinical guidelines containing recommendations about domestic violence in pregnancy and postpartum. Two reviewers used the AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation version 2) instrument to evaluate the quality of guidelines, and textual syntheses were used to appraise and compare the relevant recommendations. Out of 381 relevant published guidelines, 14 clinical guidelines were ultimately reviewed systematically.

Seven countries had a clinical guideline for domestic violence during pregnancy. None of the reviewed guidelines was rated > 75% across all domains of AGREE II while the highest-rated domains were scope, purpose, and clarity. Four related categories were recognized from the synthesis of recommendations within the appropriate guidelines. These consisted of an introduction, domestic violence in pregnancy, the role of health care professionals, and the resources. Recommendations for privacy and confidentiality, screening, identification, support, and documentation were the most commonly reported, which all of the guidelines advised them, suggesting the importance of identification of violence in pregnancy and support for abused pregnant women. 93% of the reviewed guidelines had recommendations on communication, support and building trust, child protection, and professional education and training.

The study findings suggest that there are currently gaps in clinical guidelines in various areas, including patterns of violence, the cycle of violence, identifying risk factors for violence during pregnancy, providing medical care, implementing home visitation programs, promoting self-care and empowerment, preventing violence, offering follow-up support, and conducting community education programs. Therefore, it is crucial to develop or adapt clinical guidelines for abused pregnant women, emphasizing their needs to ensure their safety and well-being.

There is an outstanding increased demand for recommendations in the rehabilitation field. Over 600 recommendation articles have been published in the last decade, primarily by groups of authors based on unclear criteria and only a few by learned societies based on standardized methods.

In 2007, the French Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SOFMER) published a methodology to establish recommendations in physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM). This framework, which served to publish 22 sets of management recommendations, must be reworked to meet new international methods for elaborating recommendations. Therefore, our objectives were: 1) to elaborate an updated methodology to enhance the dissemination and implementation of SOFMER-endorsed recommendations, and 2) to standardize and report in sufficient detail the successive steps from the elaboration of these recommendations to the evaluation of their impact and provide supporting tools to guide developers.

At the SOFMER's request, a steering committee assembled, consisting of 7 PRM senior physicians with experience in elaborating, disseminating, implementing and/or evaluating recommendations in the field of PRM. They conducted a non-systematic literature review to identify methodologies and standardized operating procedures previously published by scientific societies in France and overseas. Available information regarding strategies for elaboration, dissemination, implementation and evaluation of the recommendations, scientific valorization and business models was retrieved. Participants in previous recommendations were also interviewed regardless of their field.

We identified 4 common key steps: preparation, elaboration, valorization and evaluation, usually scheduled according to an 18- to 24-month timetable. We divided these 4 steps into 9 sub-steps, each of which was standardized and described in detail. The steering committee also elaborated a specific editorial process for publishing recommendations.

This novel SOFMER methodology was designed to draw up high-level recommendations for the field of PRM and, more generally, for rehabilitation practices, facilitating their implementation. Standardization of operating procedures should provide guidance to authors to achieve replicable and high-quality recommendations.

Significance: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common complication of diabetes, characterized by chronic, hard-to-heal wounds that can lead to serious infections and amputations. Effective self-management is crucial for treatment and prevention. Recent Advances: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across academic databases, clinical practice guideline (CPG) databases, and the websites of diabetes societies. The characteristics, recommendations, and evaluation criteria of the CPGs were extracted and organized using Excel. Four researchers independently assessed the methodological and reporting quality of the CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation II instrument and the Reporting Items for practice Guidelines in HealThcare checklist. Data were synthesized and visualized through evidence mapping to provide an overview of current guideline coverage and key recommendations. Critical Issues: This study included 13 CPGs and synthesized 46 recommendations. Self-management strategies for patients with DFU mainly involve health education, foot self-care, lifestyle change, comorbidity/symptom management, as well as follow-up and medical help-seeking. The identified CPGs were of mixed quality, with four classified as high quality. With respect to methodology, the CPGs performed well in scope and purpose (82.6%±10.9%) and clarity (80.77%±9.19%), but showed deficiencies in stakeholder involvement (52.8%; interquartile range [IQR]: 17.3%) and editorial independence (58.3%; IQR: 82.3%). For reporting quality, limitations were noted in transparency regarding review and quality assurance (18.75%; IQR: 100%), as well as funding and declaration of interests (12.5%; IQR: 32.82%). Future Directions: The evidence provided by CPGs for DFU self-management varied in strength, and some recommendations were inconsistent. The results adds to our knowledge and promotes the development of trustworthy CPGs on DFU. Further research is necessary to propose more evidence-based and high-quality recommendations.

Chronic mental diseases are enduring and recurring, and need constant care and a collaborative approach for management. Based on clinical guidelines, family interventions can improve the quality of care for individuals with chronic mental diseases.

Specifically, the study examined family involvement in the care of people suffering from schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar mood disorder by adapting international clinical guidelines.

The resource toolkit for guideline adaptation was selected as the adaptation process. Seven databases were searched for international clinical guidelines. Independent reviewers utilized the Appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II tools to assess guidelines that met the inclusion and quality criteria. The recommendations from the guidelines were combined with those from the systematic review and qualitative research, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research checklists. Rephrased recommendations with redundant or overlapping content were excluded from the Iranian context due to the cultural, religious and belief changes of the people, as well as the lack of necessary facilities. Translations of the selected recommendations were made into Persian, along with modified recommendations.

A total of 573 recommendations from 17 books, 10 national documents, 16 guidelines, 27 articles, and 31 English and Persian theses were identified. After the initial review (referred to as RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method 1), 467 recommendations received an appropriate score, 106 had an uncertain score, and none of them received an inappropriate score. After merging the recommendations, they received 433 good grades and 98 uncertain grades. After the face-to-face meeting of the research team, 7 were merged due to similarity, and 91 recommendations were made in a hybrid panel of experts (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method 2). Finally, 524 recommendations were identified that applied to the psychiatric medical centers in Iran. The examined and revised recommendations suggest healthcare professional interventions for family involvement in the care of patients with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar mood disorder referred to medical centers in Iran. The adapted recommendations emphasize the need for family-centered collaborative care ( interventions which satisfy the needs of patients with chronic mental diseases and their caregivers, considering their preferences and capabilities.

Chronic diseases globally contribute to heightened rates of morbidity and mortality. Telehealth is a viable approach to managing chronic illness. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, a research facility implemented telehealth in April 2020 to continue research activities. A telehealth program evaluation was needed to explore the facility's strengths and improvement opportunities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Program Evaluation guided the evaluation to determine whether telehealth implementation improved care access, efficiency, and provider experiences. Missed and canceled visits, visit duration, and wait times between April 2020 and June 2023 were analyzed for those 19 years and older with chronic illnesses identified by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes. Provider experiences were measured with the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire. The facility transitioned from Microsoft Teams® to a telehealth platform in March 2023, offering more robust data. Analyses revealed improved completed visits, decreased patient abandoned visits, and varied canceled and duration percentages. Providers missed visits less frequently than patients. Run charts for telehealth total visits versus chronic visits did not reveal special cause variations. Provider experiences were favorable except for telehealth reliability and interface quality. Recommendations include continued user training, evaluating patients' experiences, exploring telehealth's impact on research participant recruitment, and standardizing evaluation processes through policy development.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a cutaneous fibroblastic tumour that is locally aggressive, with a tendency for local recurrence, but rarely metastasizes. A collaboration of multi-disciplinary experts from the European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) was formed to update recommendations on DFSP diagnosis and treatment, based on current literature reviews and the experts' consensus. Diagnosis is suspected clinically and confirmed by pathology report, which should specify whether a transformation in higher-grade fibrosarcoma occurred. Detection of specific chromosomal translocations and/or fusion gene transcripts is useful to confirm diagnosis. Treatment is mainly surgical, intending to achieve complete resection of the tumour. To reduce the recurrence rate, the treatment of choice in DFSP is micrographically controlled surgery. Standard excision with a lateral safety margin of 2-3 cm is an acceptable alternative where only standard histopathological procedures are available. Imatinib is approved in Europe for treating inoperable primary tumours, locally inoperable recurrent disease, and metastatic DFSP. Use of imatinib has also been reported in extensive, difficult-to-operate tumours for preoperative reduction of tumour size, but clinical trials or large register data are required to confirm the usefulness of this approach. Therapeutic decisions for patients with fibrosarcomatous DFSP should be primarily made by an interdisciplinary oncology team ('tumour board').

During adolescence, accurate diagnostic criteria and/or identification of adolescents "at risk" of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are critical to establish appropriate screening, treatment, and lifelong health plans. The 2023 International Evidence-Based Guideline for PCOS aimed to provide the most up-to-date evidence-based recommendations to improve health outcomes for individuals with PCOS, emphasizing accurate and timely diagnosis of PCOS from adolescence.

The best practice methods following the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE-II) criteria were applied. Healthcare professionals and patients/consumers reviewed extensive evidence synthesis/meta-analysis for 55 prioritized clinical questions. Databases (OVID MEDLINE, All EBM, PsycInfo, EMBASE, CINAHL) were searched until August 2022 as part of the 2023 update of the Guideline. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework guided experts on evidence quality, feasibility, acceptability, cost, implementation, and ultimately recommendation strength.

This manuscript focuses on the adolescent-specific recommendations of the 2023 Guideline. The diagnosis is based on the presence of both irregular menstrual cycles (defined according to the time postmenarche) and clinical/biochemical hyperandrogenism following the exclusion of other disorders that mimic PCOS. Adolescents with only one of these features can be considered "at risk" of PCOS requiring the management of symptoms and ongoing follow-up. Polycystic ovarian morphology on pelvic ultrasonography or anti-Müllerian hormone levels should not be used for diagnosis during adolescence. Lifelong health planning is recommended to include healthy lifestyles, screening for depression and metabolic features and the transition to adult care, all underpinned by shared decision-making. Healthcare professionals should explain weight-related health risks to adolescents, while minimizing weight stigma. In adolescents with PCOS or "at risk" of PCOS, combined oral contraceptive pills are indicated for menstrual irregularity and clinical hyperandrogenism, focusing on low dose preparations, and metformin could be considered for metabolic features and cycle regulation. Overall, the evidence is limited in adolescents with PCOS, and recommendations are based on low to moderate certainty evidence.

Extensive international engagement and rigorous processes generated International Guideline diagnostic criteria for adolescents that differ from adult criteria and clarified appropriate screening and management strategies for PCOS during adolescence.

Birth trauma (BT) is a significant public health concern affecting approximately one-third of the 140 million annual births worldwide, yet it lacks a unified approach for effective intervention. This study investigates the global landscape of BT management, focusing on the current best practice guidelines and service provisions for supporting women with birth-related trauma and the practicable actionable gaps that needs to be addressed.

This scoping review followed the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, and systematically searched 13 electronic databases and websites for clinical guidelines, policy documents, care standards, practice recommendations and service provisions related to BT. The search yielded eight guidelines, of which were assessed using the AGREE II appraisal tool. Additionally, eight peer-reviewed articles focusing on current practices and service recommendations were analysed alongside the guidelines using a narrative synthesis approach.

There are gaps between guideline recommendations and service experiences, barriers and facilitators at the patient, provider, and system levels as well as between research, policy and clinical practice. Of the guidelines included, only three rated high quality (>70 %).

There was consistency in recommending trauma-informed care, collaborative care between health professionals, patient and practitioner education and debriefing as an intervention. However, there were inconsistencies in the definition of BT and most lacked details on the steps, structure or practical tools that should be used. Seven key themes were identified regarding gaps between proposed guidelines and actual experiences of women after traumatic birth.

There is an urgent need for standardised, evidence-based guidelines that are user-friendly and provide practical advice for implementing trauma-informed care.

To assess Australian clinical guidelines for their inclusion of sex and gender.

Survey of all clinical guidelines published in Australia from 1 January 2014 to 31 April 2024 that employed methods such as Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations, or were endorsed, approved or acknowledged by the National Health and Medical Research Council or another major national body, or concerned marginalised groups.

Use of the terms "sex", "gender", "female", "male", "women", "men", "girl" and "boy"; definitions of "sex" and "gender"; and incorporation of sex- and gender-relevant guidance.

The 80 eligible guidelines were from 51 organisations and covered 27 areas of practice. No sex- or gender-related terms were found in 12 of the guidelines. Of the remaining 68 guidelines, most used some of these terms only a few times, with 34 of them using "gender" to mean "sex". "Sex" and "gender" were defined to some extent in four guidelines. There was no reference to clinical practice concerning sex in 15 of the guidelines. A total of 46 guidelines made no mention of clinical practice concerning gender, only 12 included gender-relevant practice in any detail, and the remaining 22 either implied aspects of gender awareness without stating this or mentioned "psychosocial" or "cultural" considerations. Guidelines drew on heterogeneous research, some of which provided no sex-disaggregated data.

Guideline development bodies should be encouraged to assess evidence for its treatment of sex and gender, to enable strategies to counter inequity and discrimination.

Inappropriate polypharmacy increases the risk of medication-related issues. Adequate management of polypharmacy is a challenge involving different healthcare professionals, complex decision-making and ideally including patient involvement. The objective of this scoping review was to provide an overview of national recommendations for medication management of patients with polypharmacy in primary care.

A scoping review of clinical practice guidelines focusing on medication management in adults with polypharmacy, applicable to primary care was performed. Databases (G-I-N, Turning Research into Practice and PubMed), network, and a global report were screened for guidelines published after 2000 in English, Dutch, German, Spanish, French, or Russian. Raw data were extracted in duplicate using an extraction framework focusing on strategies, involvement of professionals, patient involvement, and implementation. Qualitative content analysis was used. Guideline quality was assessed using AGREE-II. The study was registered with the Open Science Framework.

Eight guidelines originating from eight countries were included. The most common recommended strategy was a medication review conducted by a general practitioner and/or a community pharmacist. Tasks and target population differed per guideline. Most guidelines recommended involving the patient in the process, mostly to elicit the patient's experiences and treatment goals. Few guidelines included advice on the implementation of recommendations. Three out of eight guidelines were of good quality (AGREE-II score >70% in 5/6 domains).

Most guidelines recommended a medication review, with patient involvement, as a strategy for medication management in polypharmacy in primary care. Guidance on task division and implementation of guidelines in practice was less clear. This review illustrates room for guideline improvements.

Aspergillosis is a disease caused by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus spp. with a spectrum of clinical presentation that includes invasive and noninvasive forms. The invasive clinical presentation of aspergillosis most frequently affects people with compromised immune systems. In patients with oncohematologic pathology, invasive lung aspergillosis is a significant opportunistic mycosis, because it occurs frequently and has a major impact on morbidity, mortality, and high costs. The global problem of antimicrobial resistance, to which improper use of antifungals contributes, has put Aspergilus spp. in the spotlight, so it is important to generate guidelines for guidance in the proper use of antifungals in the management of invasive lung aspergillosis, to obtain better clinical outcomes and promote rational use of antifungals. This guideline contains recommendations for diagnosing and treating invasive lung aspergillosis in patients with oncohematologic disease, based on evidence and defined through a participatory process of expert consensus, for the Latin American context.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for preventing and managing oral health problems. This systematic review aimed to identify and assess clinical practice guidelines on oral hygiene, focusing on quality and key areas. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, and organizational websites. Guidelines from health organizations that focused on oral health, hygiene education, and disease prevention were included. Guidelines based on expert opinions and those focusing on specific pathologies were excluded. The AGREE II tool was used to evaluate quality, and a narrative synthesis summarized recommendations across pediatric, adult, and senior age groups. Nine studies were reviewed. Results showed that electric toothbrushes do not significantly outperform manual ones in preventing cavities, though they may reduce plaque. Fluoride toothpaste is less effective if followed by rinsing with water. For adults, mouthwashes with chlorhexidine or sodium fluoride are recommended. Checkups every six months are advised for healthy children and adults. Proper denture care is also emphasized. Regular updates to oral care guidelines are necessary, as oral health affects essential functions and social well-being.