Table 1 DELBI Criterion 22 (“The guideline is editorially independent of the funding organisation(s).”)

“Strongly Disagree”

1

if the guideline does not contain any information / explanation pertaining to financial support.

if the CPG contained no statement or information provided was inconclusive.

2

requires that the guideline provides information about both the responsible organisation (editors) and any additional financial or other support of the guideline.

if the CPG contained information on funding sources.

3

requires that the guideline provides information about the funding or supporting organisation and details about how the guideline work has been funded.

if the CPG contained information on funding sources and expenses.

“Strongly Agree”

4

requires that apart from naming the funding and / or supporting bodies the guideline must contain information about the nature and volume of the funding. This should take the form of an explicit statement pointing out that no influence on the contents of the guideline has been exercised by the funding and/or supporting bodies. The information may be provided by the guideline itself or in a guideline report (see item 29). The guideline report must clearly be indicated in the guideline. According to these requirements the description in a guideline report must individually refer to the respective guideline; it is not sufficient to provide basic information only.

if the CPG contained information on funding sources, type and volume of expenses. The rating was also awarded if no exact costs were given for individual expenses (e.g. no information on the actual amount of travel costs). The information needed to relate to the guideline in question and to contain an explicit statement on the independence of all funding bodies and the responsible organization.