From the Journals

Behavior Guidance Often Poorly Cited

A systematic review finds that behavior change communication recommendations are rarely substantiated with clearly linked, relevant citations, raising questions about how clinicians are trained

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  • 1

    1,163 recommendations evaluated from 84 guidance sources.

  • 2

    Only 20% of recommendations had relevant evidence support.

  • 3

    Alcohol use guidance had the highest citation relevance.

  • 4

    National guidelines were less likely to provide relevant citations.

  • 5

    Systematic reviews were the most cited evidence type.

  • 6

    Recommendations lacked clear connections between citations and claims.

  • 7

    Transparency in training materials is crucial for effective patient communication.

  • 8

    Future studies should assess the methodological quality of cited evidence.

Original Source(s)

Behavior Guidance Often Poorly Cited

A systematic review finds that behavior change communication recommendations are rarely substantiated with clearly linked, relevant citations, raising questions about how clinicians are trained

  • by Kerri Miller

  • February 20, 2026

  • 4 min

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