Living guidelines have come of age: new insights and methods-an open call for contributions.

Abstract

Objectives: Guideline developers have long recognized the importance of maintaining up-to-date guidelines to support evidence-based practice and policy, contributing to narrowing the gap between research generation and its application. This commentary reflects on key insights from the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology's Methods for Living Guidelines series and issues an open call for contributions aimed at advancing the development, implementation, and evaluation of living guideline methods.

Methods: This commentary synthesizes methodological innovations and practice experiences shared in the Methods for Living Guidelines series, highlighting emerging practices and lessons learned.

Results: Although the practice of continuously updated guidance predates its formal naming, the COVID-19 pandemic brought living guidelines to the forefront, accelerating their adoption and methodological innovation. This saw methodological advances, including the integration of rapid evidence synthesis, dynamic updating protocols, and stakeholder engagement strategies, which collectively enhanced the responsiveness and relevance of guideline development.

Conclusion: Living guidelines offer a flexible and adaptive framework that aligns with the pace of emerging evidence and evolving clinical needs. Their successful implementation depends on sustained investment in methodological rigor and collaborative networks. The Journal of Clinical Epidemiology's series highlights the importance shared learning and transparency in refining these approaches. This commentary calls upon researchers and guideline methodologists to contribute to the ongoing advancement of living guidelines methods, ensuring their reliability, relevance and impact in addressing global challenges.