vailability of region-specific endometriosis care guidance: a global scoping review
Evans D., Gibbons T., Skidmore B., Zondervan K., Adamson GD., Giudice LC., Missmer SA., Abbott J., Abrao M., Becker C., Bush D., Canis M., Cox E., Dyer S., Farquhar C., Flores I., Gajbhiye R., Guo S-W., Gupta J., Harada T., Horne A., Hummelshoj L., Johnson N., Kihara A., Kvaskoff M., Maggiore ULR., Nap A., Njagi JN., O'Hara B., Oral E., Salamon A., Tomassetti C., Weckesser A., Zegers-Hochschild F., Zhang J.
Guidance on standards of care, particularly incorporating region-specific needs, is foundational to high-quality health care. The availability of region-specific guidance on endometriosis care, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, has not previously been documented. We conducted a scoping review of endometriosis care guidance in each of the 194 WHO member states to identify the highest organisational level of guidance by region. Nine sources were defined, ranging from national society and government documents to news and social media posts. There is geographical heterogeneity in the existence and sources of guidance, with the greatest availability in Europe. In regions where national societies or advocacy groups exist, many do not maintain or reference care guidelines—even when they exist locally. To ensure patients, providers, and policy makers have access to endometriosis care guidance, patient advocacy groups, professional societies, and governments need to create, maintain, and publicise their resources for patients and providers.