ObjectivesTo evaluate the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) of Chinese rehabilitation medicine.MethodsCBM, VIP, CNKI, WanFang Data and Medlive databases were electronically searched to collect CPGs of Chinese rehabilitation medicine from January 1979 to May 2018. Four reviewers evaluated the methodological quality of the CPGs by AGREE Ⅱ.ResultsA total of 11 CPGs were included, which involved 5 CPGs on nervous system rehabilitation, 1 CPG on bone and joint system rehabilitation, 1 CPG each on pediatric rehabilitation, internal medicine system rehabilitation, burn rehabilitation, earthquake rehabilitation and rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment criteria respectively. The results of AGREE Ⅱ score showed that the average scores on six domains were 65.3%, 28.0%, 9.3%, 42.1%, 6.3% and 4.0%. There were not any level A (recommended) guidelines. Two guidelines were level B (recommended after being revised). The other nine guidelines were level C (not recommended).ConclusionsThere are a few rehabilitation CPGs in China and the quality of methodology is low. AGREE's methods and concepts have not been fully used for formulation. The rigor of development, clarity of presentation, applicability and editorial independence of guidelines should be emphasized, so as to produce high level CPGs and improve clinical practice quality in rehabilitation medicine.
Pathological myopic tractional maculopathy (MTM), as an important type of macular lesions associated with high myopia, play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of myopic macular diseases. With the rapid development of retinal imaging technologies, especially the widespread application of optical coherence tomography, new technical support has been provided for the accurate diagnosis, clinical staging, treatment decision-making, and long-term follow-up of MTM. However, in clinical practice in China, there are still issues such as unclear definitions, inconsistent staging criteria, and significant differences in treatment strategies. To address these challenges, Fundus Diseases Group in Ophthalmology Branch of Chinese Medical Association and Professional Committee of Fundus Diseases in Ophthalmology Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association for Ophthalmologists jointly drafted the Expert consensus on management of pathologic myopic tractional maculopathy in China, based on a systematic literature review and the latest clinical evidence. The consensus was revised multiple times by the core expert group and finally finalized. This consensus systematically establishes a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic system for MTM, covering disease definition and staging, diagnostic pathways and follow-up protocols, treatment strategies based on staging, and surgical intervention plans. It aims to provide ophthalmologists at all levels with a scientifically sound and practically applicable clinical guidance. The development of the consensus strictly adheres to the principles of evidence-based medicine, fully considering the actual clinical conditions of medical institutions at different levels in China. It provides principled recommendations with broad guiding significance for the clinical practice of MTM. It is particularly emphasized that when applying this consensus, clinicians should comprehensively consider the patient’s clinical characteristics, treatment accessibility, and socioeconomic factors, and implement personalized and precise treatment strategies to meet the diverse clinical needs of patients with pathological myopia.
By employing the nominal group technique, as per the process standard of the EQUATOR Collaboration Network, experts were selected through purposeful sampling. Two rounds of nominal group discussions were conducted, and the essential information of the utilization of the consensus method was extracted from the literature. After comparison, discussion, evaluation, and optimization, a list of 3 fields, 11 themes, 63 necessary items, and 28 supplementary items was eventually constructed to upgrade the standardization and rigor of the application of the consensus method in the future, assisting guideline developers to plan the consensus process.
Primary osteoporosis is a common metabolic disease in China, causing immense disease and economic burden to patients, their families and the society. Prevention is an important strategy to reduce the disease burden of primary osteoporosis. Calcium, as a basic element for maintaining bone health, plays an important role in the prevention of primary osteoporosis. This guideline was initiated by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Society Evidence-based Pharmacy Specialised Committee. The standard methodology for the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) was employed. A multidisciplinary guideline working group was formed. Delphi method was used to select and eventually identified 15 key clinical questions. Systematic evaluation was carried out on each of the key clinical question and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to formed 15 recommendations, providing guidance for standardizing the clinical practice of calcium supplementation in prevention of primary osteoporosis in adults in China.
Objective To evaluate the quality of Chinese clinical practice guidelines published in domestic medical journals in 2011. Methods The following 4 Chinese databases including WanFang Data, VIP, CNKI and CBM were searched from January 2011 to December 2011. The quality of included guidelines was assessed by using AGREE II. Results A total of 75 guidelines published in 2011 were included. Among them, 10 guidelines (13%) stated the conflict of interest, 10 guidelines (13%) mentioned evidence-based developing, 5 guidelines (7%) performed evidence grading system, 8 guidelines (11%) performed recommendation strength grading system, and 4 guidelines (5%) performed both evidence and recommendation strength grading systems. The ratio of the 6 domains’ scores of AGREEⅡ were as follows: scope and purpose (18%), stakeholder involvement (11%), rigour of development (8%), clarity of presentation (34%), applicability (5%), and editorial independence (14%). Conclusion Compared with the guidelines published before, the guidelines of 2011 have a higher quality and some of them are progressively standardized in developing methodology.
ObjectivesTo investigate Chinese health practitioners’ usage and demand for clinical practice guidelines in general so as to improve the development and implementation of guidelines.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey that covered health practitioners from different levels of medical institutions in 17 provinces in China. Attitudes, adherence, usage barriers and demands for clinical practice guidelines were investigated.ResultsA total of 953 health practitioners were involved in the survey in which 931 completed the questionnaires. Respondents generally held positive attitudes toward guidelines and agreed that they improved quality of care and standardized diagnosis and treatment. More than 80% of the respondents reported a fine adherence to guidelines. The most reported barriers to follow the guidelines were " several guidelines are competing” and " lack of facilities and medical resources”. Most respondents agreed that it was necessary to establish a national guideline database, appraise implementation effect of guidelines, develop evaluation tools for guidelines that are applicable for Chinese clinical practice, and provide guidelines training.ConclusionsThis study finds favorable attitudes and fine adherence towards clinical guidelines in general in China. However, internal barriers, such as authority of guidelines, and external barriers, such as supplying system and patients’ preference, can affect guideline dissemination and implementation. It is suggested that establishing a national guidelines database, developing evaluation tools for guidelines that fit for Chinese clinical practice, and provision of guideline training, would facilitate the use of guidelines.
The instrument for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines (version 2.0) is designed to evaluate the clinical applicability of guidelines quantitatively. It is helpful to select guidelines with high clinical applicability and provide suggestions for revision. The evaluators are consistent with the target users of guidelines. The instrument consists of basic information, evaluation items and scoring scheme. The evaluation items are related to accessibility, readability, acceptability, feasibility and overall evaluation. Therefore, this article provides a detailed interpretation of the instrument and references for future users.
Neuromuscular disease (NMD) encompasses a group of disorders that affect motor neurons, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions, and skeletal muscles, potentially leading to respiratory muscle impairment and decline in respiratory function, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. In March 2023, clinical practice guideline titled Respiratory Management of Patients with Neuromuscular Weakness was released by the American College of Chest Physicians. This article summarizes, categorizes, and interprets the contents and key points of the guideline, aiming to provide more targeted guidance for clinical healthcare professionals and ultimately enhance the effectiveness of respiratory management for patients with NMD.
Objectives To investigate the participation of magazines or journals' editors in the clinical practice guidelines in China. Methods WanFang Data, VIP, CNKI, CBM databases, as well as Baidu, Google and www.medlive.cn were searched online to collect incorporated guidelines in which magazines or journal editors participated in. Data was then analyzed. Results In total, 68 guidelines were selected, with 51 (75.00%) led by magazines and 17 (25.00%) edited by editors. 55 guidelines (80.88%) were the same in published and participated journals. Circulatory diseases (27.94%), diagnosis and treatment (54.41%) were the most concerned. 15 guidelines (22.06%) were updated. 17 guidelines reported the roles of the editors who were mostly expert group members (13.24%). 7 guidelines, 3 of which affirmed no relevant conflicts of interest, reported the sponsorship. The quality was higher than the domestic average while lower than the international guidelines. Conclusions The number of clinical practice guidelines magazines or editors participating in China is relatively small, while the quality was higher. The primary form of the participation is journal-led, however, the process, methods, roles, and conflicts of interest in the guidelines require further definition.