The impact of cancer research: how publications influence UK cancer clinical guidelines
2008

The impact of cancer research on UK clinical guidelines

Sample size: 3217 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Lewison G, Sullivan R

Primary Institution: University College London

Hypothesis

How do cancer research publications influence clinical guidelines in the UK?

Conclusion

UK cancer research papers are cited nearly three times more frequently in clinical guidelines than expected based on their overall presence in world oncology research.

Supporting Evidence

  • UK cancer research papers are cited nearly three times more frequently in clinical guidelines than expected.
  • Edinburgh and Glasgow have significantly high contributions to the scientific base of the guidelines.
  • Most cited papers acknowledge funding from various sectors, indicating a strong financial backing for UK cancer research.

Takeaway

This study shows that research on cancer in the UK is often used to help create guidelines for treating patients, which means it has a big impact on how doctors decide to treat cancer.

Methodology

The study analyzed references from 43 UK cancer clinical guidelines and compared them with cancer research publications from 1999 to 2001.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of guidelines and the geographical focus on the UK.

Limitations

The study may not fully capture the influence of all cancer research due to the focus on specific guidelines and time periods.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6604405

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