Objective To analyze the methodological quality of clinical practice guideline mentioned “evidence-based” in China. Methods We selected clinical guidelines developed based on evidence issued by the Chinese Medical Association in 2010-2012, and meanwhile, we conducted additional search for guidelines on clinical major diseases. Then, we selected literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and evaluated the included guidelines according to 8 items relevant to methodological rigor which were selected from the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II). If the guidelines comply with the item, we recorded 1 point, otherwise 0 point. Results a) Among twenty-two included guidelines, 13 were originated and 9 were updated once every 3 to 5 years. b) Diseases covered stroke, diabetes, chronic hepatitis B, hypertension, pediatric nutrition, etc. c) The number of guideline references were 10 to 218, of which, nine guidelines cited 24 Cochrane systematic reviews (CDSRs), accounted for 2.62% (24/916). Among them, the acute ischemic stroke guideline cited the most (7 CDSRs). d) The number of experts involved in guidelines development was 2 to 95 and guidelines pages were 4 to 150. e) The guidelines’ quality generally scored 4 to 7, most of which described the process of guidelines development. The grades of recommendation were consistent with the levels of evidence. But most of the included guidelines did not clearly described literature research methods, peer reviewer, and update procedures. Conclusion There is a growing trend that clinical guidelines are developed based on evidence in China. However, the quality of reporting and the methodological rigor of guidelines need further improvement. The citation rates of Cochrane systematic reviews in these guidelines were relatively low. We suggest that guideline recommendations should be consistent with the levels of evidence and adapt to local conditions, and relevant support policies for guideline implementation in practice. In future, attention should be paid to the aspects of guideline development methods, reporting standard, guideline accessibility, and standard training for relevant personnel.
Background Tongxinluo capsule is a new drug for cardio- cerebral vascular diseases on the national essential drug list of China, and the second-class award of National Science and Technology Development of China, 2001. Objective This review aims to assess the effect (harms and benefits) of Tongxinluo capsule for unstable angina. Search strategy electronic searchs The Cochrane Heart Review Group specialised trials register,The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, published in the latest issue of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, Chinese Cochrane Centre Controlled Trials Register, Current Controlled Trials (www. controlled-trials. com), The National Research Register Handsearchs We will search 83 journals of Chinese traditional medicine. Inclusion riteria We will include randomised controlled trials of Tonxinluo capsule versus placebo or other current phamarcotherapy or other Chinese medicinal herbs in the participants with unstable angina pectoris. Studies will report mortality (sudden death from acute myocardial infarction), severity of angina pectoris, frequency of acute attack angina, ECG improvement, rate of dosage reducing or taking frequency of nitroglycerine and symptom improvement, etc. Data analysis Data will be included in a meta-analysis if they are available, of sufficient quality and sufficiently similar.
Backgroud Iodine deficiency is the main cause for potentially preventable mental retardation in childhood and is still prevalent in large parts of the world. Objectives To assess the effects of iodised salt in comparison with other forms of iodine supplementation or placebo in the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Library, Medline, the Register of Chinese trials developed by the Chinese Cochrane Centre, and the Chinese Med Database. We performed handsearching of a number of journals (Chinese Journal of Control of Endemic Diseases, Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine, and Studies of Trace Elements and Health up to February 2001), and searched reference lists, databases of ongoing trials and the Internet. Date of latest search: November 2001. Selection Criteria We included prospective controlled studies of iodised salt versus other forms of iodine supplementation or placebo in people living in areas of iodine deficiency. Studies reported mainly goitre rates and urinary iodine excretion as outcome measures. Data collection amp; analysis As the studies identified were not sufficiently similar and not of sufficient quality, we did not do a meta-analysis but summarised the data in a narrative format. Main results We found six prospective controlled trials relating to our question. Four of these were described as randomised controlled trials, one was a prospective trial that did not specify allocation to comparison groups, and one was a large population-based study comparing different interventions. Comparison interventions included non-iodised salt, iodised water, iodised oil, iodation with potassium iodide versus potassium iodate. Numbers of participants in the trials ranged from 35 to 334; over 20 000 people were included in the population-based study. There was a tendency towards goitre reduction with iodised salt, although this was not significant in all studies. There was aim an improved iodine status in most studies (except in small children in one of the studies), although urinary iodine excretion did not always reach the levels recommended by the WHO. Reviewers’ conclusions The results suggest that iodised salt is an effective and safe means of improving iodine status. However, high quality controlled studies are needed to address questions of dosage and best means of iodine supplementation in different population groups.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression in prevention of deep venous thrombosis after major orthopedic operation. Methods We searched MEDLINE (1966 to January 2008), The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2008), CBM (1996 to January 2008), CNKI (1998 to January 2008), VIP (1998 to January 2008), and retrieved clinical controlled trials (CCTs) or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which IPC was used as an intervention to prevent DVT, and all the trials were published in English or Chinese. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed according to the standard of Cochrane systematic review. RevMan 4.2 software was used for meta-analysis. Results Seven RCTs and 1 CCT were included. Their methodological quality was poor. The results of Meta–analyses showed: (1) The incidence of DVT in the IPC group was lower than that in the control group (RR=0.20, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.35, Plt;0.000 01); (2) There was no difference in the incidence of DVT between the IPC group and the LMWH group (RR=0.70, 95%CI 0.28 to 1.74, P=0.44); (3) The incidence of DVT in the IPC plus LMWH group was lower than that in the LMWH-alone group (RR=0.23, 95%CI 0.10 to 0.52, P=0.000 4). Furthermore, the incidence of DVT in the IPC plus LMWH group was lower than that in the GCS plus LMWH group (Plt;0.000 1). No severe adverse reaction of IPC in DVT prevention was reported. Conclusion IPC shows an effective tendency in DVT prevention, but because of the low quality and the small sample of the included studies, this conclusion needs to be verified by protocols of more samples and high quality.
Objective The purpose of this study, which focuses on the number of the Cochrane Systematic Review’s (CSR) full texts, protocols and registered titles from Chinese authors, is to show the development of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and promote EBM’s further development in China. Methods On the basis of The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2009) and the Cochrane Collaboration (March 2009) periodicals, we performed statistical analysis of different countries that released CSR’s full texts, protocols and registered titles, as well as the time, authors and distribution of the CSR’s full texts, protocols and registered titles in China. Results The publishing rates of the CSR’s full texts, protocols and registered titles in China ranked the seventh, fifth and second, respectively. Although the number of CSR’s full texts and protocols showed an increased annual trend in China, the development of area distribution was unbalanced. Moreover, China’s published articles contained 47 Cochrane collaboration groups, without effective practice and health care groups, consumers and communication groups, and methodology and multiple stenosis groups. Conclusions The current Chinese EBM situation has a great potential in writing CSR. However, there are still many problems that need to be resolved.
Until Issue 2 in 2008, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews had included 23 systematic reviews concerning colorectal tumors by the colorectal cancer group. These reviews involved prevention, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and follow-up. The preventive ability of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, accuracy of chromoscopy, shortterm outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal resection and outcomes of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision were confirmed. Meanwhile, the effect of dietary fibre in prevention, mechanical preoperative preparation, and prophylactic anastomotic drainage was questioned. Because of the low quality of trials, no firm conclusions were revealed in some reviews, such as traditional Chinese medicine in chemotherapy. Through the study of Cochrane systematic reviews, medical practitioners and researchers can obtain high-quality evidence, and identify future research direction in the field of colorectal cancer.
This paper reports publication status, authors distribution and the difficulties of producing Cochrane systematic reviews （CSRs） in China to offer new ideas for further development of CSR. in China. Up to Dec. 2005, Chinese authors have published 28 CSRs （1.1%）, 10 of which were indexed by SCI.
Having searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2005), we found: fluoride can reduce the occurrence and severity of white spot lesions; removal of premature contacts of the primary teeth can prevent posterior crossbite; expanding the top teeth can decrease the risk of a posterior crossbite; CSF may help retaining teeth; clear overlay retainer may settle teeth quicker than Hawley retainer; adhesives for fixed orthodontic brackets is still in dispute.
Objective To detect the false-positive results of cumulative meta-analyses of Cochrane Urology Group with the trial sequential analysis (TSA). Methods The systematic reviews of Urology Group of The Cochrane Library were searched to collect meta-analyses with positive results. Two researchers independently screened literature and extracted data of included meta-analyses. Then, TSA was performed using TSA software version 0.9 beta. Results A total of 11 meta-analyses were included. The results of TSA showed that, 8 of 11 (72.7%) meta-analyses were potentially false-positive results for failing to surpass the trial sequential monitoring boundary and to reach the required information size. Conclusion TSA can help researchers to identify the false-positive results of meta-analyses.