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.
Based-on retrieval and reviewing information of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines from the literature, this paper introduced the key components of assessment guideline quality, including the process of development and reporting of guideline.
This article introduces development methods and notices about evidence-based clinical practice guidelines of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and discuss the similarities and differences between GRADE system and the methodological studies of other clinical guidelines, focusing on the analysis of literature retrieval, quality of evidence, formation of recommendation strength, and detailed measures on how to ensure correct understanding and rationally using the GRADE system. Applying the GRADE system to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines of VAP could clearly present the quality of evidence and make recommendations.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) standardization is an important carrier for TCM inheriting and innovating. As an important content of TCM standardization system, TCM clinical practice guidelines' designation and revision play an important role for medical staff to regulate medical behavior, and improve the quality of health services. This paper expounds the significance and function of the TCM guidelines, analyzes the present situation, opportunities and challenges, and puts forward the strategies and suggestions to promote the development of evidence-based TCM guidelines.
The formulation process of recommendations in evidence-based clinical practice guidelines was often complex and cumbersome. This paper described the evolution of levels of evidence and strength of recommendations in medical research and analyzed existing problems when making recommendations. We also summarized and introduced the method of formulating the final recommendation. At present, there isn’t a perfect and uniform method to guide the formulation of recommendations. But some organizations provided different content frameworks or auxiliary tools to guide formulation of recommendations. Developers of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines can learn from their experiences, combine with their own characteristics of guidelines such as specific target population and specific clinical situations, establish a rational method of recommendations formation.
Ovarian cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of female genital organs. In gynecological tumors, the incidence rate of ovarian cancer ranks the third after cervical cancer and uterine body cancer, but the death rate of ovarian cancer ranks the first, posing a serious threat to women’s life and health. In recent years, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical practice guidelines for ovarian cancer has become an important basis for diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer. In this paper, we interpret the latest version (version 4. 2017) of NCCN clinical practice guidelines for ovarian cancer for its better clinical application.
With the development of evidence-based medicine, an increasing amount of clinical care experts are paying attention to recommendations in the guidelines and the application of guidelines in clinical nursing practice. The demand for clinical practice guidelines is becoming increasingly important. Based on characteristics of nursing, this paper focuses on primary steps in the formulation of nursing-clinical practice guideline, such as clinical problems, outcomes, nursing evidence retrieval and selection, evidence and recommendations classification, methods from evidence to recommendations, patients' preference and value, and provides suggestions for development of nursing-clinical practice guidelines.
The number of clinical practice guidelines for traditional Chinese patent medicine has been increasing recently. However, the quality of guidelines was still low compared to international guidelines. Considering the characteristics of traditional Chinese patent medicine, we suggested the following items should be taken into account when developing traditional Chinese patent medicine guidelines: ensuring the standardized guidelines of traditional Chinese patent medicine research problem is scientific based on reliable evidence; identifying the common questions according to these research problems; understanding the strength of evidence and how to recommend correctly; inviting some experts in other fields to take part in the development of guidelines; paying more attention on the changes of disease burden and the impact of new methods and technologies when developing the guideline; paying more attention to the non-consensus opinions and evidence supporting these opinions; insisting on quality is the priority, while speed is secondary.