On the 13th of March 2025, The Alive Learning Forum convened to discuss the concept Living Evidence and Living Evidence guidelines as presented by Dr. Heath White from Monash University’s Australian Living Evidence Collaboration and chaired by Alive’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Britta Jeppesen.

The session covered the practicalities of developing and maintaining living guidelines; their benefits, challenges, and potential impact on decision-making.

The need for living guidelines
‍Beginning with an introduction to living evidence guidelines, the central message was that long update cycles have rendered traditional guidelines outdated. In contrast, living evidence guidelines are dynamic and continually updated as new research emerges, ensuring adaptability to policy and practice changes.

‍Implementation
‍In processing and implementing living evidence guidelines, one key feature is their ability to give precedence to recommendations based on evolving evidence needs. The process of updating cycles can be systematised using automated searches. Technological tools such as Cochrane RevMan and MAGICapp support real-time updates.

‍Engaging stakeholders
‍How do we effectively engage panels and stakeholders? It is crucial that new evidence is reviewed after the initial publication, which necessitates active, ongoing engagement from review panels. In addition, continued evaluation and input from stakeholders are essential for refining the guidelines. The speaker also emphasised that flexibility in communication and participation greatly supports the maintenance of engagement.

‍Communications 
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‍A key aspect of living evidence is ensuring that updated guidelines are effectively communicated and adopted in practice. This requires well-thought-out dissemination strategies so that practitioners, policymakers, and other end users are aware of and can act on the latest recommendations. Beyond communication, real-world implementation also relies on integration into clinical systems, capacity-building, and institutional support. Evaluating the uptake and outcomes of living guidelines in practice helps ensure they are making a meaningful impact.

‍Funding
‍Funding remains a significant challenge in developing and maintaining living guidelines. Many are discontinued due to limited resources. This highlights the need for provisional long-term financial support from governments and institutions. Furthermore, it is essential to develop and implement strategies that sustain funder engagement over time.

It's essential to ensure that practitioners and decision-makers are aware of the latest living evidence guidelines. Effective dissemination strategies must be in place to ensure the guidelines reach relevant audiences. Additionally, evaluating the real-world impact of these guidelines is critical to understanding their influence on decision-making processes. The potential for improved healthcare outcomes is significant, as timely updates based on the latest evidence help ensure that policies and practices are always aligned with the most current research.

The meeting reinforced the value of living evidence guidelines in maintaining up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations. The approach offers greater adaptability and relevance but requires sustainable funding and structured stakeholder engagement. The discussion also highlighted the need for further impact assessment and wider adoption within the medical and research community.


The session recording can be accessed here with password: p&1&h0X1


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_{‍This post is based upon a discussion during an Alive Learning Forum session, and the views and opinions expressed are those of the participants, and may not necessarily represent those of Alive or its partners.}