Keeping our information up-to-date

Evidence-based health information must be up-to-date with current scientific research. For this reason, regular updates are an important indicator of quality.

We generally check whether our information is still up-to-date at least every three years. To find out whether our information needs to be updated, we look for new systematic reviews. You can find information about when an article was last updated, and when it was first published, below the article.

We sometimes update our information within less than three years if there is a specific reason to do so – for instance, if drug regulatory authorities issue a safety alert.

German Network for Evidence-based medicine. Gute Praxis Gesundheitsinformation. Berlin: 2015.

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany). General methods. Version 5.0. Cologne: IQWiG; 2017.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.

Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

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We welcome any feedback and ideas - either via our form or by gi-kontakt@iqwig.de. We will review, but not publish, your ratings and comments. Your information will of course be treated confidentially. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required fields.

Please note that we do not provide individual advice on matters of health. You can read about where to find help and support in Germany in our information “How can I find self-help groups and information centers?

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Updated on January 16, 2020

Next planned update: 2023

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

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