The current issue of air pollution has pushed the development of the corresponding observational air pollution studies. The World Health Organization has developed a new risk of bias (RoB) assessment instrument and a related guideline for assessing the risk of potential bias in observational air pollution studies. This study introduced the background, methods, uses, advantages and disadvantages, precautions, and usage scenarios of the RoB instrument. It is expected to provide researchers with corresponding quality evaluation tools when writing related systematic review and meta-analysis, which will also help provide reporting standards for observational air pollution studies, thereby improving the quality of studies.
Objective To evaluate the quality of Chinese literatures on the methodology of D-dimer diagnostic test. Method We searched CNKI (1994 to 2006) and CBM (1978 to 2006) for articles involving the diagnostic tests of D-dimer for coagulation disorders. Result A total of 63 relevant articles were retrieved and 7 were included in our review. Only one of these provided useful data on two two table for the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions Few studies on the diagnostic tests of D-dimer have been performed and publ ished in China, all of poor quality. Further studies should focus on clinical diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, so as to provide more valuable information for readers.
Large Language Models (LLMs) are highly sophisticated deep learning models pre-trained on massive datasets, with ChatGPT representing a prominent application of LLMs in the field of generative models. Since the release of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, generative chatbots have become widely employed across various medical disciplines. As a crucial discipline guiding clinical practices, the usage of generative chatbots like ChatGPT in Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is gradually increasing. However, the potential, challenges, and intricacies of their application in the domain of EBM remain unclear. This paper aims to explore and discuss the prospects, challenges, and considerations associated with the application of ChatGPT in the field of EBM through a review of relevant literature. The discussion spans four aspects: evidence generation, synthesis, assessment, dissemination, and implementation, providing researchers with insights into the latest developments and future research suggestions.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of protocols and reports on the core outcome set of traditional Chinese medicine (COS-TCM), and to provide some evidence for COS-TCM developers to carry out studies and improve the reporting quality and methodological quality during their studies. MethodsLiterature databases in Chinese and English were searched to collect COS-TCM protocols or study reports from inception to April 18, 2023. The Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Reporting (COS-STAR), Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Development (COS-STAD), and Core Outcome Set-STAndardised Protocol Items (COS-STAP) were used to evaluate their reporting and methodological quality. Additionally, the consistency of studies with both published protocols and results was evaluated. ResultsA total of 14 protocols and 14 reports (involving 23 COS-TCM studies) were included. The evaluation of COS-TCM protocols according to the COS-STAP found that the reporting rates of "Stakeholders" (71.4%) and "Missing data" (42.9%) were relatively low. For the reports of COS-TCM, the evaluation based on the COS-STAD found that the reporting rates of "the population (s) covered by the COS" (35.7%) and "care was taken to avoid ambiguity of language used in the list of outcomes" (28.6%) were relatively low. Based on the COS-STAR, the items with low reporting rates were "Protocol Deviation" (7.1%), "Participants" (21.4%), and "Conflicts of interest" (28.6%). Additionally, the consistency evaluation found that there were inconsistencies between protocols and their results, such as the types of research included in the systematic review, the methods of qualitative research, the way of holding consensus meetings, scoring methods, etc. Moreover, only one study reported protocol deviation and reasons for change. ConclusionCOS-TCM studies need to improve their methodological quality and report transparency. When developing COS-TCM, we should pay attention to the characteristics of TCM while basing on international standards. The quality evaluation guidelines and standards of reporting for COS-TCM study need to be developed in the future.
Objective To evaluate the current situation of the design of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Clinical Anesthesiology, Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology and Chinese Journal of Pain Medicine from 1999 to September in 2003. Method The clinical therapeutic studies in the three journals from 1999 to September of 2003 were hand searched over page by page to identify strictly the randomized controlled trials according to Chinese Cochrane Center hand search guideline. Results 412, 378 and 142 papers of the three journals were published, among which, there were 237, 221 and 68 papers of RCT. Conclusions Although the quality of RCT in the three journals has been increased significantly year by year, but there still exist some problems. The quality of RCT papers needs more improvement to guarantee RCT to be more precise as it demands.
Objective
To assess the quality of budget impact analysis in China and Canada.
Methods
We searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP from inception to 1st November, 2016, to collect studies about budget impact analysis. Two reviewers independently screened literatures, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies.
Results
27 literatures were included. The mean grades of Chinese and Canadian literatures were 3.8 and 5.5, respectively. Some Chinese studies did not explicitly clarify the research perspective. Few studies in China were conducted according to budget holders’ perspective and with a short time horizon, or examined the results using sensitivity analyses responsive to the uncertainty surrounding future market developments, or compared between current and comparator scenarios. These deficiencies were not conducive to scientific and rational decision-making.
Conclusion
The quality of budget impact analysis is relatively low in China. It is needed to establish uniform budget impact analysis guideline to improve quality to guide decision making.
Objective To investigate patients in gynecological endocrinology clinic with the following three pieces of information: how did they provide their symptom information, how did they understand diagnostic and therapeutic information, and what was their attitude towards the visit, and to get to know about the situation and problems in doctor-patient communication, so as to aim directly at improving the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment. Methods A total of 403 patients, who visited Prof. HAN Zi-yan’s clinic in the hospital from April to August 2010, were evaluated using self-edited Assessment on Doctor-patient Communication in Gynecological Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic. Results a) As to the situation of patients providing symptom information as well as understanding diagnostic and therapeutic information, when doctor asked, only 29% (118/403) of patients could narrate their treatment history clearly, and 38% (152/403) could tell their examination history exactly. After doctors’ explanation, only 21% (86/403) understood their examination results correctly, and 27% (108/403) understood management and therapeutic advice. The result of correlation analysis showed the accuracy of patients in providing disease information and accepting diagnostic and therapeutic information was higher in patients aged from 21 to 40 rather than those younger than 20, in patients well- educated rather than those with little education at the primary school, and in patients who were also engaged in medical work, All differences were significant (all Plt;0.05); and b) As to patients’ attitude towards visit, 55% (222/403) of patients hoped to get more attention from doctor, and 37.5% (151/403) overly expected the visit. Conclusion In the professor’s gynecological endocrinology outpatient clinic, many patients can’t clearly provide their treatment and examination history, neither understand exam situation and therapeutic advice at that visit, which are influenced by their age, education and occupation. In addition, psychological needs of patients should be concerned, too
National Center for Medical Service Administration of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China was established at the beginning of 2015. It is mainly in charge of developing and managing standards of medical technology and organizing their implementation, and giving technical guidance and consulting for evaluation of medical institutions. The foundation of the center fills in the blank of lacking central administrative department of the guideline development and evaluation. This paper introduces the definition and the function of clinical practice guideline, and analyzes the current situation, problems and challenges of domestic guidelines, and proposes some potential suggestions on improving the quality of Chinese guidelines from national level for promoting the standardization, scientification and transparency of clinical practice guidelines in China.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the quality of health information on diabetes in Chinese internet, so as to understand the current status of diabetes network health information, and provide reference for improving and enriching the three-level prevention of diabetes.MethodsThe three most common Chinese search engines: Baidu, Sogou and Haosou Search were searched with the keywords " diabetes” and " diabetes treatment”, using the health information evaluation tool DISCERN score to evaluate the quality of the information, and the integrity and accuracy of information content were evaluated with reference to the " Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in China (2017 Edition)” issued by the Chinese Diabetes Society of Chinese Medical Association.ResultsA total of 300 links were accessed and included in 17 websites. The DISCERN review showed that only 1 item's average score exceeded 3 points. According to website content score, the excellent part accounted for 11.7%, the good part accounted for 35.2%, the fair part accounted for 47.1%, and the poor part accounted for 5.8%. 50% of websites contained error messages, and the subject of the most error-prone information was diagnosis and treatment. There was a positive correlation between the content score and the DSCERN score in the credibility score and the verbosity score (r=0.71, 0.73, P<0.001). The websites were evaluated by attributes, and the quality evaluation of diabetes-related information in some general-purpose websites was higher than that of diabetes specialist websites.ConclusionsThe quality of diabetes health information on Chinese websites is insufficient. It is necessary for China to establish a web-based information platform for diabetes. China has not yet formed a unified network health information evaluation standard in line with its national conditions. The key to solving the problem lies in the collaboration between professional health personnel and website developers.
Objective To evaluate the quality of controlled trials on 131I therapy for thyroglobulin positive and radioactive iodine negative metastases（131I WBS-/Tg+）. Methods We electronically searched MEDLINE (1966 to Mar. 2004), EMBASE (1984 to 2003), The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial, CENTRAL (Issue 2, 2004), CBMdisc (1978 to 2004) and CNKI (1994 to 2004), and handsearched 5 radiotherapy and endocrinology journals (Jan. 1980 to Apr. 2003). The methodological quality of included studies was assessed by using quality assessment criteria of the Cochrane systematic review guideline. Results Three non-randomized controlled trials were included. One was historical controlled trial, and two prospective trials. The sample sizes of three trials were 26, 60 and 70 respectively without mentioning the calculation base. The comparability of baseline was mentioned but not comparable across the trials. No double blind studies were used in the assessment of 131I efficacy. The time of follow-up varied from 2 to 15 years. None studies mentioned the side effects of 131I therapy for 131I WBS-/Tg+ metastases. Only two studies applied statistical methods properly. Conclusions Problems about allocation of groups, double blind, sample size, and follow-up period continue to exist in published controlled trials. RCT or prospective controlled trials of high quality are urgently needed in order to define the efficacy and safety of 131I therapy for 131I WBS-/Tg+ metastases.
