Defined clinical question
Each brief begins with the population, intervention or exposure, comparator and outcomes. Scope exclusions are stated before the search is interpreted.
Evidence library
Evidence briefs designed to be checked.
This is the publication standard for Diagnify evidence briefs: a clinical question, a reproducible search record, explicit appraisal, and a versioned interpretation with limits. Briefs will populate here as they complete clinical review.
No evidence briefs are presented as complete on this page. The library will grow only as individual briefs are reviewed and approved for publication. Absence of a brief must not be interpreted as absence of evidence.
Publishing standard
A visible trail from question to conclusion.
The template is designed so a reader can understand what was asked, what was searched, how evidence was judged, and where judgment or uncertainty remains.
Reproducible search record
Search date, named sources, search terms, filters and eligibility decisions are recorded so readers can see the evidence window and repeat the work.
Explicit appraisal
Study limitations, risk of bias, effect uncertainty, applicability and any conflicts in the evidence are separated from the final interpretation.
Brief method
What every reviewed brief will contain.
A brief is a structured evidence record, not an unattributed summary. These fields are required before publication.
Frame the PICO and intended use
Define the population, intervention or exposure, comparator and outcomes. State the clinical context, intended professional audience, jurisdiction and questions the brief does not answer.
Record the search
Provide the date searched, databases and guideline sources, complete search strategy, limits, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the date through which the search can be considered current.
Extract and appraise
Record study design, population, intervention and comparator details, outcomes, effect estimates, measures of uncertainty, follow-up, funding and relevant conflicts. Name the critical-appraisal and certainty framework used, then show the judgments that produced the rating.
Interpret benefits, harms and disagreement
Separate statistical results from clinical interpretation. Present important harms, absolute effects where available, conflicting findings, guideline disagreement and remaining uncertainty without smoothing them into a single confident answer.
Test applicability
Describe whether the studied population, setting, baseline risk, intervention and outcomes fit the intended use. Identify groups for whom the evidence is indirect, sparse or not applicable.
Review, version and correct
Name the author and clinical reviewer, their relevant credentials and declared conflicts. Show the publication date, last search date, next review trigger, version number, material changes, superseded versions and a correction route.
Publication template
The fields readers should expect to see.
The template keeps evidence, interpretation and maintenance information distinct.
| Section | Required record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Question | PICO, outcomes, scope, audience and jurisdiction | Prevents a broad conclusion from being applied to a different question. |
| Search | Date, sources, complete strategy, limits and eligibility criteria | Shows how current and reproducible the evidence search is. |
| Evidence | Study characteristics, effect estimates, uncertainty, harms and conflicts | Lets readers inspect the findings rather than accept a summary on trust. |
| Appraisal | Named method, risk-of-bias judgments and certainty rationale | Makes the strength of the conclusion traceable to explicit judgments. |
| Applicability | Setting, population, baseline risk, indirectness and exceptions | Clarifies where a finding may or may not transfer to practice. |
| Governance | Author, reviewer, conflicts, review dates, version and change log | Shows accountability and how the brief is maintained over time. |
Interpretation
Certainty is not a badge.
A certainty label is useful only when the framework, outcome and reasons for each judgment are visible.
Outcome-specific first
Certainty can differ across outcomes. A brief should not let a strong finding for one outcome imply equal confidence in every benefit or harm.
Uncertainty retained
Wide intervals, sparse data, indirect populations, selective reporting and inconsistent findings remain visible in the conclusion and are not hidden by confident language.
Evidence and recommendation separated
What studies found is distinct from what a clinician might consider. Patient values, resources, feasibility, baseline risk and local guidance may change a decision.
Jurisdiction identified
Guidelines, medicine availability, regulatory status and standard practice vary. A brief identifies the setting to which each source and interpretation apply.
Clinical context still governs. Evidence briefs are educational resources for qualified health professionals. They do not provide patient-specific medical advice and do not replace local guidance, clinical judgment or verification of primary sources.
Maintenance
A change log, not a silent rewrite.
Each brief will retain enough history for readers to understand when and why its interpretation changed.
Version record
Version number, original publication date, last clinical review and last evidence search appear together.
Material changes
New evidence, changed conclusions, corrected errors and altered scope receive a plain-language change note.
Superseded material
Outdated versions are clearly marked and connected to the current brief rather than silently removed from context.
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