Objective To explore the methods used for developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture. Methods Based on the characteristics of acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine,and principles of evidence-based medicine, this article introduces and summarizes the processes and methods for developing an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for acupuncture. We analyzed similarities and differences between clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture and for other interventions. We used an evidence-based clinical practice guideline of acupuncture for depression as an example to illustrate the methods of literature search, grading of evidence and recommendations, evidence evaluation and consensus formation. Results Preliminary recommendations on the methods for developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture were made. Conclusion Based on the optimized rational methodology for developing clinical guidelines, evidence-based high-quality clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture could be established.
In November 2017, the American Heart Association updated the pediatric basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality. The new guidelines focused on the clinical value of chest compression-only CPR versus CPR using chest compressions with rescue breaths in children, rather than a comprehensive revision of the 2015 edition guidelines. The Pediatric Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation updated part content of the guidelines according to the continuous evidence review process. Guidelines recommend CPR using chest compressions with rescue breaths should be provided for infants and children with cardiac arrest. Bystanders provide chest compressions if they are unwilling or unable to deliver rescue breaths. This article mainly interprets the updated content.
ObjectiveTo explore impact factors related to the clinical applicability of guidelines, and provide suggestions for better development and implementation of guidelines. MethodsThe CNKI database was electronically searched to collect clinical guidelines issued by the Chinese Medical Association and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association from 2015 to 2020. Sixty-one guidelines were randomly selected from included guidelines and each guideline was evaluated by medical staff from three regions using the instrument for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines (version 2.0). Statistical data were described, and t-test or rank sum test or chi-square test were used for comparison between groups. The impact factors were screened by stepwise logistic regression analysis. ResultsA total of 6 904 valid questionnaires were collected from 119 medical institutions in 26 provinces of China. The more familiar with the guidelines and the more consistent with the wishes of patients or their families, the overall standardized score of the clinical applicability of guidelines would be higher. In addition, the more familiar with the guidelines, the standardized scores in each field would be higher. The higher emphasis on guidelines compliance, the higher the feasibility standardized score. ConclusionIn order to improve the clinical applicability of guidelines, developers should pay attention to whether the recommendations are consistent with the wishes of patients or their families. Then, medical institutions should pay attention to the compliance of guidelines. Finally, medical personnel should be familiar with the recommendations.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the quality of evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, so as to provide evidence for clinical stress urinary incontinence management research.MethodsWebsite of the professional society, clinical practice guide website, Yimaitong website, PubMed, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect stress urinary incontinence management related guidelines from January 1st, 2014 to January 1st, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated the quality of included guidelines using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE Ⅱ) and the characteristics of each guidelines were analyzed.ResultsWe identified totally 8 relevant evidence-based guidelines in this field. The average standardized scores in the 6 domains of AGREE II were 90.74% (scope and purpose), 78.71% (stakeholder involvement), 74.60% (rigor of development), 93.52% (clarity of presentations), 61.81% (applicability), and 91.67% (independence). The overall standardized scores of 8 guidelines were 77.70%, and the total scores were 5.31 (out of 7). For overall quality, 4 of them were grade A and 4 of them were grade B.ConclusionsThe overall quality of evidence-based guidelines for stress urinary incontinence is high, and scores in different fields are vary large. Fields of " stakeholder involvement”, " rigor of development” and " applicability” with lower scores still requires strengthening. The current guidelines for female stress urinary incontinence in China still fails to meet the standards of evidence-based guidelines, so the quality of the guidelines should be improved to improve guide clinical practice.
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a group of severe retinal degenerative diseases leading to permanent visual impairment. IRDs are the major cause of irreversible blindness in children and working age groups. Gene therapy is a new clinical treatment method and currently the only clear and effective treatment for IRDs, while, there are still risks in clinical research and application. How to standardize perioperative management and reduce the potential risks of treatment is one of the keys to ensure the safety and effectiveness of treatment. However, there is no systematic and standardized guidance on the perioperative management for IRDs gene therapy. Therefore, in order to standardize the perioperative management, the Fundus Disease Group of Ophthalmology Society of Chinese Medical Association and Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized domestic experts to put forward standardized opinions on the perioperative management of IRDs gene therapy in China after repeated discussion and combined with domestic and foreign research experience, so as to provide clinicians with reference and application in clinical research and practice.
Objective To evaluate quality and current status of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guidelines and consensus, and to promote the improvements in the quality of guidelines and consensus. Methods A systematic collection of TCM guidelines and consensus published in medical journals in 2022 was conducted. We used scientific, transparent, and applicable ranking tools (STAR) for evaluation, analyzed the scoring rates (%), and assessed the quality level and influencing factors of guidelines and consensus through methods such as comparison and stratification. Results A total of 130 TCM guidelines and consensus were included. Guideline areas with higher scores included recommendations (65.3%), evidence (55.9%), and guideline development groups (54.2%). In the case of consensus, higher scores were observed in recommendations (38.7%), guideline development groups (37.0%), and funding (30.0%). The total score rate of TCM guidelines exceeded that of national guidelines, while the consensus rate was lower. Stratified analysis revealed statistical differences in guideline score rates among journals and issuing institutions, as well as significant differences in consensus score rates among journals, formulation institutions, subjects, and funding categories. Conclusion The quantity and quality of TCM guidelines and consensus are on a positive trajectory, with higher quality levels in guidelines than in consensus. The overall quality of TCM guidelines surpasses that of national guidelines, particularly emphasizing the scientificity of guideline formulation. However, the overall quality of consensus remains lower than that of the national consensus. Factors such as journals, formulation institutions, subjects, and funding categories are identified as potential influences on the quality of TCM guidelines and consensus.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the implementability of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guidelines in the field of paediatrics. MethodsWe searched the paediatrics-related TCM guidelines published in CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, SinoMed and PubMed databases, and related websites from inception to November 1, 2023. The implementability of the included guidelines was evaluated using the clinical practice guideline implementability assessment tool. ResultsA total of 47 guidelines were included, covering 37 paediatric diseases and recommending 27 TCM therapies, including TCM decoction, Chinese patent medicines, acupuncture, paediatric massage, and acupoints. The results of the guideline implementability evaluation showed that 5 guidelines (10.6%) were of high grade, 12 guidelines (25.5%) were of medium grade, and 30 guidelines (63.8%) were of low grade. With the exception of accessibility (multi-channel access methods) and communicability, which was of high quality, there is room for improvement in all areas, particularly in the areas of applicability and ease of recognition. ConclusionThe overall quality of implementability of the included paediatric TCM guidelines was low, and it is recommended that in the process of developing paediatric TCM guidelines in the future, we focus on improving the quality of implementability of the guidelines themselves from the source, so as to promote the implementation and application of the guidelines.
Secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism are common complications in patients with chronic kidney disease, especially in end stage renal disease. Surgery is an important method for the treatment of secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism. The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Guidelines for the Definitive Surgical Management of Secondary and Tertiary Renal Hyperparathyroidism is the first evidence based guideline focus on renal hyperparathyroidism surgical management. Recommendations using the best available evidence by a panel of 10 experts in secondary and tertiary renal hyperparathyroidism constructed this guideline, which provides evidence-based, individual and optimal surgical management of secondary and tertiary renal hyperparathyroidism. This paper made a guideline interpretation on the indications of surgery, imaging examination, preoperative and perioperative management, relevant evaluation and treatment during perioperative period, and intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring during operation, and so on.
In October 2020, the American Heart Association issued the 2020 edition of guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and cardiovascular first aid, which comprehensively revised cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care guidelines related to adults, children, newborns, resuscitation education science and treatment system. According to the latest edition of International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation’s classes of recommendation and levels of evidence, relevant suggestions are put forward. This article interprets the main updated and revised content, including children’s basic and advanced life support and neonatal resuscitation, in order to better guide emergency personnel and improve the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and cardiovascular first aid.
ObjectiveTo systematically analyze the distribution of research evidence on diabetes in current clinical practice guidelines of Chinese medicine (CM). MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI, VIP databases and related guideline websites were electronically searched to collect clinical practice guidelines for CM in diabetes published before December 2023. We systematically reviewed the distribution of evidence in these guidelines. ResultsThe 27 CM guidelines on diabetes mainly covered syndrome differentiation and treatment, specific disease-specific drugs, diet, external therapies, and traditional exercises. The included guidelines used three different levels of evidence grading, with most of the evidence falling into the low-to-moderate level (67.3%). However, guidelines on diabetes-related osteoporosis, diabetic cardiomyopathy, prediabetes, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy had a relatively low proportion of high-level evidence, accounting for only 7.2%, 7.6%, 13.2%, and 13.3% respectively. Only guidelines on diabetic nephropathy provided evidence on the toxicity of Chinese herbal medicine, while other guidelines did not cover this aspect. Acupuncture, Tai Chi, Baduanjin, and other characteristics therapies had varying levels of evidence for different types of complications. Low-level evidence mainly focused on syndrome differentiation and treatment, symptom-based treatment, sign-based treatment, indicator-based treatment, Chinese patent medicine, specific disease-specific formulas, etc., for diabetes and related complications. ConclusionCurrently, topics supported by low/no evidence, new themes, inconsistent content between guidelines, evidence sources for overlapping targets, classical formulas, toxicity of Chinese herbal medicine, and characteristic CM therapies can provide directions for future research on CM in diabetes. We advocate addressing important issues related to diabetes specifically, to improve research value, eliminate unnecessary duplication of studies and resource waste, and promote the healthy development of CM research in the field of diabetes.