Characteristics of the included guidelines
| Characteristics | Guidelines (n) | % |
| Year | ||
| 2010 | 6 | 8.7 |
| 2011 | 7 | 10.1 |
| 2012 | 7 | 10.1 |
| 2013 | 7 | 10.1 |
| 2014 | 9 | 13.0 |
| 2015 | 16 | 23.2 |
| 2016 | 17 | 24.6 |
| Methodologist included in guideline | ||
| Yes | 24 | 34.8 |
| No | 9 | 13.0 |
| Unclear | 36 | 52.2 |
| Declared financial conflict of interest | ||
| Yes | 63 | 91.3 |
| No | 2 | 2.9 |
| Unclear | 4 | 5.8 |
| Systematic review use | ||
| Guideline cited published reviews | 23 | 33.3 |
| Review embedded in guideline | 21 | 30.4 |
| Guideline had a rapid review or an updated literature scan | 18 | 26.1 |
| Guideline had reviews commissioned | 7 | 10.1 |
| Area of clinical specialty | ||
| Endocrinology | 40 | 58.0 |
| Urology | 13 | 18.8 |
| Orthopaedic surgery | 5 | 7.2 |
| Cardiology | 3 | 4.3 |
| Other* | 8 | 11.6 |
*Gynaecology, neonatology, pulmonology, psychiatry, rheumatology, surgery and otorhinolaryngology.