How do national specialty groups develop undergraduate guidelines for medical schools, and which are successful? A systematic review.

PURPOSE: To better understand the steps undertaken by medical specialties to develop and implement undergraduate national, and international, educational guidelines for use in medical schools, and to find what makes them successful in terms of uptake and knowledge.

METHODS: Systematic review of databases to find inter- and nationally-created undergraduate medical specialty guidelines, and descriptions of development and analysis, from 1998 to January 2015.

RESULTS: Ninety six eligible papers were found, covering 59 different guidelines in 32 specialties. Five documented from development to revision. Development often required multiple stages and methods, 10 using the Delphi technique. Twenty two guidelines mapped to recommended government standards. Twenty papers analyzed curricula. No guideline was used in every relevant medical school.

CONCLUSIONS: This is a comprehensive review of the processes involved in creating international and national guidelines, with emphasis of key points for those considering similar undertakings. These include thorough needs analysis of multiple groups involved in the delivery of the curriculum; and engagement of relevant parties throughout development, to ensure relevance and increase buy-in. Flexibility is important, to allow use in medical schools with different methods of teaching. Ongoing evaluation and update are also critical steps that must not be forgotten.