Evolution of the HELEN Representation for Managing Clinical Practice Guidelines

Adaptation is a central process in the life cycle of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), if a broad acceptance is to be achieved. Currently, there is no fully integrated solution for this process available. Due to the risk of introducing errors or compromising the evidence base, users and persons in charge often hesitate. To overcome these problems, we present a manageable pathway for the adapters and a control mechanism for the authors of generic CPGs which is fully integrated into a methodological and technical framework for developing, authoring, and implementing CPGs, called HELEN. We have extended this framework by functions to support a structured process of adaptation; there is first evidence that the quality of the adapted CPG can be enhanced by our solution. However, further evaluation is still to be done.