Based on the existing clinical research of pediatric Tuina, this paper introduced the current types of pediatric Tuina and their applications in the aspect of growth of newborn babies, emotion problems, pain, respiratory system diseases, digestive system diseases, jaundice, brain and nerve system diseases. As for the clinical researches of pediatric Tuina, the authors found the challenges including different understandings of pediatric Tuina, poor quality of clinical researches, and lack of basic data regarding pediatric Tuina. Meanwhile, the authors suggested three corresponding strategies to improve the clinical researches, i.e. to extract valuable intervention methods based on clinical practice; to conduct high quality clinical studies; to gradually collect and accumulate basic data according to a certain plan.
ObjectivesTo conduct an overview of systematic reviews (SRs) on Tuina from 2013 to 2017, and to explore recent research improvements on Tuina.MethodsPubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, SpringerLink e-book database, CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data and CBM databases were searched to collect SRs including randomized controlled clinical trials on Tuina from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and used AMSTAR 2 tool and PRISMA statement to assess methodology quality and reporting quality of included studies, respectively. The R 3.4.3 software was used to analyze data.ResultsA total of 8 SRs studies were included in the overview. The studied diseases involved radiculopathy cervical spondylotic, myelopathy cervical spondylotic, constipation, child anorexia, child diarrhea and external humeral epicondylitis. The results of above SRs showed that massage might be superior to other interventions in clinical efficacy, curative effects or total effective rate. However, due to the low quality of included studies of SRs, further evidence from high-quality clinical studies is required to verify above conclusions. For the results of AMSTAR 2 assessment, all 8 SRs were rated as very low quality. The quantity of items accomplished for each SR ranged from 7 to 13, 2 SRs had low methodological quality (percentage of accomplishment or partial accomplishment <50.0%) and 6 SRs with high methodological quality (percentage of accomplishment or partial accomplishment ≥50.0%). All 8 SRs did not report item 2 "Whether to declare research methods", item 10 "Whether reports have included funding sources for each study" and item 11 "Whether reports used the correct statistical method". The results of PRISMA assessment showed that all SR had good quality of reporting. The accomplished items number of each SR ranged from 22 to 26. However, there were defects in item 5(0), item 16(25.0%) and item 23(25.0%). All SRs did not report item 5 "Whether to declare research program".ConclusionsThis study finds that Tuina has supportive evidence-based medical evidence for treating anorexia, cervical spondylosis and other diseases, however, the SRs of Tuina are yet needed to be improved in terms of standardized degree. Therefore, establishing a reporting consolidated standard for evidence-based medicine on Tuina in order to improve the quality of clinical studies so as to provide clinicians with high-quality evidence is the focus of our further research.
Acute diarrhea has a high incidence in children. Pediatric tuina has been widely used in children with acute diarrhea in China. However, there is no guideline on the treatment of tuina for children with acute diarrhea. This guideline was developed following evidence-based principles and the World Health Organization handbook for guideline development. The linked systematic review was conducted following the Cochrane handbook. The quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations were evaluated using the GRADE approach. The reporting followed the RIGHT statement. Seven clinical questions (2 foreground questions and 5 background questions) were identified by literature review and expert consensus. Based on the linked systematic review and through comprehensive consideration of the balance of benefit and harm, quality of evidence, patient preferences, and other resources, we formulated the recommendations using Delphi expert consensus. We suggested combination of a weak recommendation for tuina with Western medicine usual care to treat children with acute diarrhea. This guideline can be used by clinicians and nurses in the department of traditional Chinese medicine pediatrics, and department of pediatric tuina, and can also be used as a reference for relevant clinicians of Western medicine and is also applicable to all institutions that practice tuina treatment.