ObjectiveTo acquaint the development process and item composition of the appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways worldwide, in order to improve the development and evaluation of clinical pathways. MethodsWe searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data for articles about the appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways from inception to Jan, 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and compared the difference in development process and item composition among included appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways. ResultsA total of 7 appraisal tools and reporting standards were included. Among them, 3 were from UK, 1 from China, 1 from Australia, 1 from Belgium, and 1 from Saudi Arabia. All included appraisal tools contained 4 to 15 domains and 14 to 99 items. Based on the comparison of different domains and items of included appraisal tools, "Clinical Pathway Management Guidelines" published by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China and the research of Vannhaecht, we identified 17 key elements of clinical pathway as follows:organizational commitment, pathway project management, format of doc, content of pathway, multidisciplinary involvement, variance management, EBM/guidelines, maintenance of pathway, accountability, patient involvement, development of pathway, additional support systems & documents, operational arrangement, implementation, outcome management, safety and organization of the care process. ConclusionCurrently, the appraisal tools and reporting standards of clinical pathways are rudimentary, so we desperately needs to establish mature appraisal tool and reporting standard of clinical pathways to guide the development and implementation of clinical pathway, so as to improve their application effects in clinical practice and medical quality.
ObjectiveTo analyze the earthquake emergency plans in 31 provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) of China, in order to summarize the relevant characteristics and discuss the existing problems to provide references for the revision and improvement of the earthquake emergency plan for the government and relevant departments. MethodsComprehensive literature search was conducted in the following websites:The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, China Earthquake Information Network, China Earthquake Administration, Government Websites and Earthquake Information Networks in 31 provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) of China. The literature which met the inclusion criteria was collected for descriptive analysis. ResultsEarthquake emergency plans in 31 provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) played a guiding role in the earthquake emergency and rescue work. However, some existing problems needed to be solved, which included:poor manoeuvrability of earthquake emergency plan, inadequate mechanisms of early warning and prevention, lower security on command platform and emergency shelter, and unclearly defined updating and revising time. ConclusionDifferent provinces (including autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) of China should establish sound laws and regulations, improve the mechanisms of early warning and prevention, strengthen security measures of command platform and emergency shelter, and update and revise plans timely combined with its own characteristics, so that earthquake emergency plans could play a greater role in earthquake emergency in the future.