gms | German Medical Science

G-I-N Conference 2012

Guidelines International Network

22.08 - 25.08.2012, Berlin

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Systematically reviewing existing guidelines of adolescents misusing alcohol and drugs: lack of evidence or lack of quality?

Meeting Abstract

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  • G.E. Bekkering - Center of Methodology of Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • B. Aertgeerts - Center of General Practice, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • J. Asueta-Lorente - Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium
  • M. Autrique - VAD (association for alcohol and other drug problems), Brussels, Belgium
  • M. Goossens - Center of General Practice, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • K. Smets - Department of General Practice, UA, Antwerp, Belgium
  • J. Van Bussel - Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium
  • W. Vanderplasschen - Department of Special Education, UGENT, Gent, Belgium
  • P. Van Royen - Department of General Practice, UA, Antwerp, Belgium
  • K. Hannes - Center of Methodology of Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Guidelines International Network. G-I-N Conference 2012. Berlin, 22.-25.08.2012. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2012. DocP003

doi: 10.3205/12gin115, urn:nbn:de:0183-12gin1152

Published: July 10, 2012

© 2012 Bekkering et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Background: Evidence-based practice guidelines for substance misuse in adolescents in Belgium will be developed using the ADAPTE methodology.

Objectives: To get a comprehensive overview of relevant evidence-based practice guidelines on the prevention, screening, detection and treatment of alcohol and drug misuse by adolescents.

Methods: We used standard methodology to conduct our systematic review and searched electronic databases, Google, websites of relevant organizations and reference lists of relevant publications. We also contacted experts in the field. We included relevant evidence-based practice guidelines, published from January 2006 onwards in Dutch, English, French and German. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality using the AGREE II instrument.

Discussion: 37 relevant guidelines were found. More than half of the guidelines targeted children and adults as one group. The majority described diagnosis and treatment of alcohol and substance misuse and fewer covered prevention. Nine guidelines scored >50% on the rigor of development subscale of AGREE. Overall, search strategies were poorly reported and often the link between recommendations and evidence was unclear. 15 guidelines had recommendations specific on adolescents. These guidelines declared a lack of studies performed in adolescents and therefore recommendations for adolescents were also or mainly based on studies in adults. Guidelines in this field are limited by a lack of evidence and a lack of quality. Its assessment is hampered by reporting issues.

Implications for guideline developers/users: Guideline developers should use the AGREE instrument to improve the quality of their guideline, both in conduct and reporting.