Objective To evaluate the methodological quality of clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing in recent six years.Methods Such databases as CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data and CBM were searched for collecting clinical trials on TCM nursing published from January 2006 to September 2011, and domestic primary nursing journals were also searched from January 2010 and September 2011. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using quality assessment criteria of the Cochrane systematic review guideline. Results A total of 854 clinical trials were retrieved, including 706 (82.7%) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 108 (12.6%) quasi-randomized controlled trials and 40 (4.7%) non-randomized controlled trials. In the methodological quality analysis, the comparability of baseline was mentioned in 784 trials (91.8%), a total of 498 (58.3%) reported definite diagnosis criteria. 178 (20.8%) reported exclusive criteria. 831 studies (97.3%) applied relevant statistical methods properly. However, only 55 trials (6.4%) mentioned the method of randomization sequence. 10 studies (1.2%) described the method of randomiztion assignment. Blinding was mentioned in 22 studies (2.6%). 98 trials (11.5%) did prospective follow-up. 93 trials (10.9%) had safety description. 20 trials (2.3%) reported lost and with drawl cases, but only 2 conducted intention-to-treat analysis. It was hard to determine whether there was selective reporting bias or not because all the studies did not have protocols. Only 21 studies (2.5%) mentioned the lack of outcome indicators which could be the evidence for existing of bias. By annual analysis, there were 81 trials which conformed to at least 2 low risk criteria. 10 trials (12.3%) was published in 2009, 26 trials (32.1%) published in 2010, and 27 trials published by September 2011, indicated an uptrend. Conclusions According to the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias, the overall quality of clinical trials on TCM nursing is low with defects in different degrees, but it rises gradually over years.
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.
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.
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 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
Meta-research is the "research of research", which aims to explore the existing quality of research in the scientific field, so as to help researchers comprehensively and systematically understand the current status of research development in a certain field, and to find relevant solutions to improve the quality of research in the field, which is a kind of scientific research concept. The concept of meta-research is widely used in the field of medicine, but its definition and use are still unclear in China. Therefore, this paper explores the origin of the definition of meta-research, the scope of research areas involved, and the path of its translation and implementation from the medical perspective, to help domestic researchers understand and familiarize themselves with the theoretical basis of meta-research, and provide them with a framework of ideas for the correct conduct and implementation of meta-research, so as to promote the scientific application and development of meta-research in the domestic medical field.
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.
Objective To evaluate the methodological and reporting qualities of randomize controlled trials involving MTC (microwave tissue coagulation) therapy for cervical erosion. Methods Through computer and handsearch, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and/or quasi-randomized controlled trials (quasi-RCTs) were collected. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using quality assessment criteria of Cochrane systematic review guideline, and the reporting quality was assessed using the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) checklist.Results Eleven clinical controlled trials (CCTs) were included. Three were RCTs and eight were quasi-RCTs. The methodological and reporting qualitiy of the included studies was generally low (10 trials ranked Level C, and the maximum CONSORT score was only 17).Conclusions The quality of the CCTs involving microwave therapy for cervical erosion is generally low with a high risk of biases. And the reporting of these trials is also incomplete. Therefore, more randomized controlled trials of high quality are required to provide reliable evidence.
Based on previous evidence-based researches and teaching experience, our team conducted literature and book review, and summarized 4 requirements, 1) effect measure calculation and conversion, 2) registration of evidence-based research, 3) evidence-based research database and 4) quality evaluation tools and reporting guidelines. We developed an online platform of evidence-based medicine research helper using the front-end and back-end technology, which can be accessed using www.ebm-helper.cn. Currently, the online tool has included 46 scenarios for effect measure calculation and conversion, introduction of 7 evidence-based research registration platforms, 26 commonly used databases for evidence-based research and 29 quality evaluation tools and reporting guidelines. This online tool can help researchers to solve specific problems encountered in different stages of evidence-based medicine research. Promoting the application of this platform in evidence-based medicine will help researchers to use the tool scientifically and improve research efficiency.
Objective To systematically evaluate the quality of published pharmacoeconomics studies on Chinese patent medicines for neoplasms. Methods Datasets including CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMbase were searched to collect pharmacoeconomics studies of Chinese patent medicines in neoplasms from the establishment of the database to September 30, 2022. Consolidated health economic evaluation reporting standards 2022 (CHEERS 2022) and quality of health economics studies (QHES) were used to evaluate the reporting quality and methodological quality. Results A total of 25 studies were included, with an average CHEERS 2022 coincidence rate of 40.09% and an average QHES score of 53.2. Conclusion The quantity and quality of pharmacoeconomics studies on Chinese patent medicines in neoplasms are insufficient and flawed. It is suggested to strenthen the collaboration between scientific research institutions and hospitals and standardize the pharmacoeconomics studies on Chinese patent medicines in neoplasms to provide hygienic decision-making evidence for Chinese patent medicines in neoplasms.
