ObjectiveTo systematically review the implementation status, effectiveness and existing problems of nutrition improvement measures for vulnerable populations in rural areas of China. MethodsAll studies about the implementation status, effectiveness and existing problems of nutrition improvement measures for vulnerable populations in rural areas of China were electronically searched in VIP, CNKI, WanFang Data and CBM from inception to January 1st, 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included studies, and then performed qualitative analysis in terms of implementation effectiveness and situation. ResultsA total of 79 studies were finally included. The results of qualitative analysis showed that:the earliest study was published in 1990; 38.0% of these studies were carried out in the southwest and northwest areas of China; 31.6% of these studies were financially supported, and most funds were provided by some international institutions; 90.0% of these research subjects focused on infants and children (under the age of 10); a variety of nutrition improvement measures had been taken, and 55.7% of these interventions measures were nutrition education which could be implemented easily; the implementation duration of 38.0% of these measures lasted less than half a year; 32.9% of these studies adopted the blood test to evaluate the outcomes of nutrition measures; all of the studies showed that nutrition levels of vulnerable populations in rural areas of China had been obviously improved by these measures. ConclusionThe nutrition improvement measures for vulnerable populations in rural areas of China have been implemented relatively earlier focusing on populations in West China where was less developed. However, an imbalance exists in the attention to target populations, especially to the elderly. Face to face nutrition education is most frequently taken; however, it could not directly reflect the changing of nutritional status. In addition, implementation duration is fairly short which indicates that more fund supports are needed from the government or institutions.
ObjectiveTo comprehensively review the status quo, contents, and problems of health technology assessments (HTAs) on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Chinese rural. MethodsThe CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data and CBM databases were searched for the HTAs on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Chinese rural up to October 31st, 2013. Two reviewers independently screened literatures and extracted data, and then the qualitative method was used to systematically analyze the literatures' information and results. ResultsA total of 34 studies were included. Of which, 23 were descriptive studies and 11 were experimental studies. The studied populations were patients and ordinary residents who had received the service of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases health technology in rural, as well as the grassroots medical technical personnel and promotion staffs who had developed the health technologies. HTAs on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in rural mainly included western medicine health technologies and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health technologies. The contents of HTA of the included literatures mainly included:effectiveness, acceptability, requirements, economic characteristics, safety and technical specific property. The results of the included literatures showed that the type of diseases involved in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in rural were not widely enough, the fields involved in assessment contents were single, lack of rigorous and comprehensive study design. ConclusionWe need more HTAs of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in rural, we also need to strengthen early prevention, promote a wider range of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases health technology, strengthen promotion and application of both TCM health technologies and the combination of TCM and western medicine health technologies in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
ObjectiveTo investigate the health technologies on diabetes prevention and management used in rural China and the assessment results of these health technologies, and to provide references for the selection and using of health technologies on diabetes prevention and management in rural China. MethodsWe searched VIP, CNKI, CBM and WanFang Data to collect survey studies and assessment reports of health technologies on diabetes prevention and management in rural China. The search date was up to July 15th, 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature, and then the qualitative analysis was performed for the included studies. ResultsA total of 15 studies were included. The results of qualitative analysis showed that:the targeted populations were patients and ordinary villagers who had received the service or treatment of diabetes health technology in rural, as well as the grassroots medical technical personnel and promotion staffs who had developed the health technologies. Diabetes health technology studies in rural mainly included medical personnel health technology related knowledge training. The contents of health technology assessment involved effectiveness, acceptability, economic characteristics, requirements and technical specific property. ConclusionThere was limited researches on the investigation and analysis of health technologies on diabetes prevention and management in rural China, and evaluation content remains insufficient.