Leitfadengestützte

Leitfadengestützte is a German adjective that describes something as being supported or guided by a Leitfaden (guideline or manual). It is used to indicate that a process, intervention or method follows predefined guidelines or standardized procedures, providing structure while allowing for context-sensitive adaptation.

In research, leitfadengestützte interviews are a common example. These are semi-structured interviews conducted according to an interview guide (Leitfaden). The guide ensures consistency across interviews and helps researchers cover key topics, while still permitting flexible probing based on responses.

In healthcare and public health, the term is applied to practices such as leitfadengestützte Versorgung or leitfadengestützte Behandlung. Such approaches align care with clinical guidelines or standardized care pathways to improve quality and comparability of outcomes, typically balancing guideline adherence with individual patient needs.

Other domains, including education, organizational development and social sciences, also use leitfadengestützte formulations. Examples include leitfadengestützte Schulungen, leitfadengestützte Entscheidungsprozesse and leitfadengestützte Verfahren, all of which denote processes carried out in accordance with a guiding framework or protocol.

Etymology and usage: the word combines Leitfaden (guideline/manual) with gestützt (supported by). Grammatically, it functions as an attributive adjective and adapts to the gender and case of the noun it modifies (e.g., leitfadengestützte Interviews, leitfadengestützte Entscheidungen).

Advantages of this approach include increased consistency, traceability and comparability. Limitations can involve reduced flexibility and the need for regular updates of guidelines as new evidence emerges.