Advances in minimal important difference methodology and applications in traditional Chinese medicine_Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Authors：

LIU Changning ¹ , YAN Siyu ² , ZUO Tianqi ³ , CAO Zumao ¹ , WANG Yongbo ² , LIN Fengxia ⁴ , LYU Shichao ⁵ ,  JIN Yinghui ² ,  SHANG Hongcai ^1,3

1. Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine/Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, P. R. China;
2. Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University/Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China;
3. Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, P. R. China;
4. Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, P. R. China;
5. First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

JIN Yinghui, Email: jinyinghui0301@163.com; SHANG Hongcai, Email: shanghongcai@126.com

Keywords：

Minimal important difference; Patient-reported outcome; Traditional Chinese medicine; GRADE methodology; Clinical practice guideline

DOI：

10.7507/1672-2531.202510142

Video：

Export PDF Favorites Scan Get Citation

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

The minimal important difference (MID) plays a critical role in evaluating the clinical significance of health outcomes and reflecting patient values. This article systematically reviews the conceptual evolution of MID, its core functions in interpreting patient-reported outcomes and the GRADE evidence framework, as well as common methods for its estimation. Furthermore, it examines the current application of MID in the efficacy evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Nevertheless, this field still faces several challenges, including methodological heterogeneity, insufficient reporting transparency, and limited application in binary endpoints and TCM-related clinical practice guidelines. Future efforts should focus on promoting the standardization and normalization of MID determination methods, and strengthening its integration into the development of TCM clinical practice guidelines, so as to establish a more scientific and patient-centered paradigm for outcome evaluation.

Citation： LIU Changning, YAN Siyu, ZUO Tianqi, CAO Zumao, WANG Yongbo, LIN Fengxia, LYU Shichao, JIN Yinghui, SHANG Hongcai. Advances in minimal important difference methodology and applications in traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2026, 26(6): 692-698. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.202510142 Copy

1.
2.	Graham R, Mancher M, Wolman DM, et a1. Clinical practice guidelines we can trust. Washington: National Academies Press, 2011.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.	Schünemann HJ, Guyatt GH. Commentary--goodbye M(C)ID! Hello MID, where do you come from? Health Serv Res, 2005, 40(2): 593-597.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.	羅建峰. 基于中醫理論的炎癥性腸病患者報告結局量表的研制與評價. 廣州: 廣州中醫藥大學, 2023.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.

1.
2. Graham R, Mancher M, Wolman DM, et a1. Clinical practice guidelines we can trust. Washington: National Academies Press, 2011.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Schünemann HJ, Guyatt GH. Commentary--goodbye M(C)ID! Hello MID, where do you come from? Health Serv Res, 2005, 40(2): 593-597.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34. 羅建峰. 基于中醫理論的炎癥性腸病患者報告結局量表的研制與評價. 廣州: 廣州中醫藥大學, 2023.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.

Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Advances in minimal important difference methodology and applications in traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Previous Article

Next Article

Format

Content