ObjectivesTo assess the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines of cervical cancer in China published from 2014 to 2018.MethodsCNKI, WanFang Data, CBM, VIP, Medlive.cn, the National Guideline Clearinghouse, PubMed, The Cochrane Library and EMbase were searched for cervical cancer clinical practice guidelines published in China from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2018. Four reviewers searched and selected the literature independently according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessed the methodological quality of the included guidelines by using AGREE Ⅱ.ResultsA total of 9 guidelines were included. The average score for each area was: scope and purpose 75.47%, stakeholders’ involvement 35.09%, the rigor of development 43.70%, clarity of presentation 87.74%, applicability 80.76%, and editorial independence 0%.ConclusionsThe quality of cervical cancer clinical practice guidelines in China requires further improvement.
Objective To evaluate the methodological and reporting quality of clinical guidelines and consensus for adult AIDS. Methods Databases including PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, WanFang Data and CNKI were electronically searched and major guideline websites such as GIN, NICE, NGC and Yimaitong were also searched to collect guidelines and consensus for adult AIDS from inception to December 2021. Two researchers independently screened the literature and extracted data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four reviewers evaluated the methodological and reporting quality of the included guidelines and consensus by using AGREE Ⅱ and RIGHT, respectively. Results A total of 17 adult AIDS guidelines and consensus were included. The average scores of AGREE Ⅱ in various domains were 59.48% for scope and purpose, 37.17% for stakeholder involvement, 30.76% for rigor of development, 74.75% for clarity of presentation, 35.54% for applicability, and 50.49% for editorial independence. The items with the highest reporting rate among the RIGHT evaluation items were 1a, 1b and 1c (100.00%), followed by 3 and 4 (94.12%), 13a and 13b (88.24%), 7b and 11a (76.47%), and 5 (64.71%), and the remaining items were all reported below 60%. Results of subgroup analysis showed that the clarity of presentation, applicability and editorial independence of the guidelines for adult AIDS expressed in AGREE Ⅱ and the average score of RIGHT were higher than those of the consensuses for adult AIDS; the average scores of guidelines and consensuses based on evidence-based medicine in five domains of AGREE Ⅱ (scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity of presentation and applicability) and RIGHT were higher than those based on expert opinions or reviews. The foreign guidelines and consensus had higher average scores in the six domains of AGREE Ⅱ and the RIGHT score than the domestic guidelines. Conclusion The methodological quality and reporting quality of the published clinical guidelines and consensuses for adult AIDS is low; in particular, there is a certain gap between the national and international guidelines and consensuses. It is suggested that future guideline developers should refer to international standards, such as AGREE Ⅱ and RIGHT, formulate high-quality guidelines and promote their application to better regulate the diagnosis and treatment of adult AIDS.
Objectives To assess the quality of clinical practice guidelines for primary hepatic carcinoma published in 2016 and 2017 in China. Methods CNKI, WanFang Data, CBM and VIP databases were searched for clinical practice guidelines for primary hepatic carcinoma in China. The search date was from Jan. 1st, 2016 to Jan. 1st, 2018. Four researchers independently selected literatures and extracted data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Ⅱ (AGREE Ⅱ) was utilized to assess the methodological quality of the guidelines. Results A total of 7 guidelines were included. The average scores of six domains for these guidelines were: 65.1% for scope and purpose, 39.4% for stakeholders’ involvement, 64.3% for rigor of development, 55.6% for clarity of presentation, 61.8% for applicability and 6.1% for editorial independence. Conclusions The quality of clinical practice guidelines for primary hepatic carcinoma in China is relative high, of which the recommendations are of great value in clinical practice, yet still required to be improved in some ways.
ObjectiveTo assess the methodological quality of guidelines for bronchoscopic alveolar lavage. MethodsCNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, CBM, Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase databases and medlive.cn, the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC), the National Guideline International Network (GIN), the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites were electronically searched to collect guidelines of bronchoscopic alveolar lavage from inception to December 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the guidelines by using AGREE Ⅱ tool. ResultsA total of 19 guidelines were included, with 5 from China, 5 from the USA, 3 from Europe, 2 from the UK, 1 from Australia, 1 from Israel, 1 from Spain, and 1 from India. The average standard score rates of the 19 guidelines in the six fields were 50.73% for scope and purpose, 20.02% for participants, 15.13% for formulation rigor, 36.40% for clarity of presentation, 3.51% for applicability, and 22.37% for editorial independence.ConclusionsThe quality of bronchoalveolar lavage guidelines remains relatively low.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) of Chinese rehabilitation medicine.MethodsCBM, VIP, CNKI, WanFang Data and Medlive databases were electronically searched to collect CPGs of Chinese rehabilitation medicine from January 1979 to May 2018. Four reviewers evaluated the methodological quality of the CPGs by AGREE Ⅱ.ResultsA total of 11 CPGs were included, which involved 5 CPGs on nervous system rehabilitation, 1 CPG on bone and joint system rehabilitation, 1 CPG each on pediatric rehabilitation, internal medicine system rehabilitation, burn rehabilitation, earthquake rehabilitation and rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment criteria respectively. The results of AGREE Ⅱ score showed that the average scores on six domains were 65.3%, 28.0%, 9.3%, 42.1%, 6.3% and 4.0%. There were not any level A (recommended) guidelines. Two guidelines were level B (recommended after being revised). The other nine guidelines were level C (not recommended).ConclusionsThere are a few rehabilitation CPGs in China and the quality of methodology is low. AGREE's methods and concepts have not been fully used for formulation. The rigor of development, clarity of presentation, applicability and editorial independence of guidelines should be emphasized, so as to produce high level CPGs and improve clinical practice quality in rehabilitation medicine.
ObjectivesTo assess the methodological quality of Chinese clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for respiratory diseases published in 2017, so as to provide evidence for developing and updating CPGs of this field in the future.MethodsWanFang Data, CNKI, VIP, CBM databases, Medlive and other related websites were electronically searched to collect Chinese CPGs for respiratory diseases published from January 2017 to December 2017. Four reviewers independently evaluated the quality of eligible guidelines by using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Ⅱ (AGREE Ⅱ) instrument.ResultsA total of 37 guidelines were included. The mean scores of the six AGREE Ⅱ domains (scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity and presentation, applicability, editorial independence) were 59.3%, 25.1%, 10.8%, 59.1%, 25.8%, and 7.3%, respectively. Only 1 guideline (2.7%) was recommended for clinical use, and 2 guidelines (5.4%) were recommended with modification.ConclusionsThe CPGs for respiratory diseases published in China in 2017 have higher quality than CPGs published prior to 2017, however great discrepancies exist when comparing with international guidelines of average level. More attention should be paid on the rigorousness of methodology and the practicality of content in the future development of CPGs.
ObjectivesTo assess the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for diagnosis and management of cough in China, and to provide methodological experiences for updating and developing the evidence-based guideline in this field in future.
MethodsWe searched CBM, WanFang Data, VIP and CNKI databases, and Chinese clinical guidelines' website to identify and select CPGs related to cough in China. Four reviewers independently evaluated the quality of eligible guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) Ⅱ instrument.
ResultsSix guidelines were included. The mean scores for six AGREE Ⅱ domains were low:scope and purpose 61.1%, stakeholder involvement 26.6%, rigor of development 16.7%, clarity and presentation 58.3%, applicability 11.1%, and editorial independence 0.0%.
ConclusionThe quality of guidelines for cough in China is low. More efforts are urgently needed to develop high quality Chinese guidelines using methodologically rigorous development frameworks and strengthen guideline reporting.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of Chinese clinical practice guidelines published in domestic medical journals from 2012 to 2013 and compare with the quality of guidelines published before.
MethodsCNKI, CBM and WanFang Data were searched to collect guidelines from January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2013. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and extracted data. The AGREE Ⅱ instrument was applied to assess methodological quality of included guidelines.
ResultsA total of 78 guidelines were identified. Among them, 37 guidelines were published in 2012, and 41 in 2013. The scores of 6 domains' scores of AGREE Ⅱ were as follows:scope and purpose (24%), stakeholder involvement (11%), rigour of development (7%), clarity of presentation (32%), applicability (7%), and editorial independence (4%). The results of subgroup analysis indicated that, the scores in 5 domains (except applicability) of the guidelines published in CSCD journals were higher than those of non CSCD journals; the scores in 4 domains (except stakeholder involvement and applicability) of the guidelines received funds were higher than those of guidelines with no funds; and the scores in 5 domains (except editorial independence) of the guidelines published in 2013 were higher than those in 2012.
ConclusionThe guidelines published from 2012 to 2013 have higher quality than guidelines published before 2012, but great discrepancies exist when comparing with international guidelines of average level. Chinese guidelines developers should attach importance to international methodology to develop guidelines, and use the AGREE Ⅱ instrument to develop and report guidelines.
Objective To assess the methodological quality of clinical guidelines and consensus of lupus nephritis, to collect the recommendations of each guideline, and to provide references for clinical decision-making. Methods PubMed, CNKI, and CBM databases and related websites such as NGC, NICE, GIN, SIGN, and Medive were electronically searched from January 2012 to December 2020 to collect the clinical guidelines and expert consensus for lupus nephritis. After consistency evaluation by four evaluators, the methodological quality of the included guidelines or expert consensus was evaluated using AGREE Ⅱ. The relevant recommendations, evidence level, and recommended strength of each guideline in treating lupus nephritis were summarized. Results A total of eight guidelines and two consensus statements were included. Among them, eight guidelines or consensus statements were level B (generally recommended guidelines), and two were level C (non-recommended guidelines). Relevant recommendations mainly gave the corresponding treatment scheme according to the pathological type of lupus nephritis. Conclusion The methodological quality of lupus nephritis guideline formulation in China needs to be improved. The included guidelines and consensus can provide reference for clinical decision-makers. However, higher-quality clinical practice guidelines for the Chinese population are needed to be developed in the future.
ObjectiveTo review guidelines on diet intervention for hypertension, compare the similarities/differences and the regularity of the guidelines, discuss the prevention and treatment effects of diet intervention for hypertension, promote the understanding of the guide, and to explore the best method of diet intervention for hypertension.
MethodsDatabase such as CNKI, EMbase, PubMed, etc., as well as guideline websites were searched from inception to February 28th, 2014, for collecting guidelines on diet intervention in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE Ⅱ) were applied to assess methodological quality of the guidelines. Characteristics of diets recommended by the guidelines were analyzed through comparing the different regions and quality levels of the guidelines.
ResultsA total of 27 guidelines on diet intervention for hypertension were included. They were formulated by 5 continents, 9 countries, 2 regions (Taiwan of China and Europe), and 1 international organization (WHO). According to the AGREE Ⅱ instrument, 13 guidelines were graded as Level A (recommendation) and 14 were graded as Level B (recommended after changes), respectively. The domains were more than 60% except for "rigor of development" (57.89±7.71)% and "applicability" (58.39±6.29)%. Each guideline recommended low sodium diet (usually:5 to 6 g/d; Oceania:4 g/d; North America:the amount of sodium intake should be decreased as age increases). The amount of alcohol intake was generally 30 mL/d for men and 20 mL/d for women. All included guidelines recommended to increase the intake of fruits, vegetables, and potassium.
ConclusionCurrently, more than half of diet intervention recommendations for hypertension in different countries and regions are still needs to be improved and modified. Diet recommendations differ in regions, gender, and age.
