Protocol for the development of consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline extension: CARE for acupuncture

BackgroundHealth research reporting guidelines for case reports (CARE - CAse REport) published in 2013 and 2017 have become a generally accepted standard for publishing case reports. The CARE guidelines represent an architectural framework for writing an evidence-based case report that can be customized as need for a specialty (or disease) if needed. We aim to develop a CARE guideline extension for acupuncture following the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) and the 2010″Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting". We have established a group of international experts including; clinicians, researchers and methodologists. We performed a needs assessment based on a review of acupuncture case reports published in the indexed medical literature. The needs assessment will be followed by (1) a series of expert interviews to establish a draft, (2) a modified Delphi process, and (3) a consensus meeting. Following the consensus meeting we will pilot test the CARE draft before publishing the CARE extension for acupuncture.MethodsWe will develop the CARE extensions for acupuncture following recommendations of the EQUATOR Network and the 2010 "Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting". We will establish an international multidisciplinary group including clinical practitioners, acupuncturists, researchers of reporting guidelines on acupuncture, clinical epidemiologists and statisticians.We performed a needs assessment, reviewing published case reports using acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention from indexed medical journals (PubMed-PMC and Medline, Scopus, Embase, the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Wan Fang database, Chinese BioMedicine database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP). In consultations with advisors we will develop a draft of potential items to be included in the CARE extension for acupuncture. Then we will conduct a modified Delphi process of at least three rounds, hold a face-to-face consensus meeting, pilot test and submit the CARE extension for acupuncture for publication.ConclusionThe development of a widely accepted CARE extension for acupuncture for case reports published in indexed medical journals. These guidelines will follow the EQUATOR Network recommendations and the 2010 "Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting".     

Consensus on the use and monitoring of anti‐TNF‐α therapies for rheumatic diseases in Hong Kong 2005

The development and use of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists is a major breakthrough in the treatment of many rheumatic diseases. Although these novel agents are undoubtedly superior to conventional therapeutic modalities, their costs and potential adverse effects are of concern. The current consensus statements were developed in early 2005 to help practicing rheumatologists identify which adult patients may benefit from anti‐TNF therapies and highlight their potential toxicities. The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology has developed a registry on the use of the biologics in our local patients with chronic rheumatic disorders. Because the indications and novel data regarding the TNF inhibitors are ever changing, this consensus will be updated regularly.     

Guidelines for Trials of Behavioral Treatments for Recurrent Headache, First Edition: American Headache Society Behavioral Clinical Trials Workgroup

Guidelines for design of clinical trials evaluating behavioral headache treatments were developed to facilitate production of quality research evaluating behavioral therapies for management of primary headache disorders. These guidelines were produced by a Workgroup of headache researchers under auspices of the American Headache Society. The guidelines are complementary to and modeled after guidelines for pharmacological trials published by the International Headache Society, but they address methodologic considerations unique to behavioral and other nonpharmacological treatments. Explicit guidelines for evaluating behavioral headache therapies are needed as the optimal methodology for behavioral (and other nonpharmacologic) trials necessarily differs from the preferred methodology for drug trials. In addition, trials comparing and integrating drug and behavioral therapies present methodological challenges not addressed by guidelines for pharmacologic research. These guidelines address patient selection, trial design for behavioral treatments and for comparisons across multiple treatment modalities (eg, behavioral vs pharmacologic), evaluation of results, and research ethics. Although developed specifically for behavioral therapies, the guidelines may apply to the design of clinical trials evaluating many forms of nonpharmacologic therapies for headache.     

Practical guidelines for physicians in the management of febrile seizures

Recent studies have shown that adequate medication can prevent the recurrence of febrile seizures (FS). It has also been clarified that the vast majority of, though not all, FS patients follow a benign course. Then, questions arise as to whether or not FS should be prevented, particularly in light of the risks of side effects from drugs. Which kinds of FS can be prevented, if necessary? The guidelines presented here are aimed primarily at helping general practitioners in considering how to manage FS most appropriately. The guidelines stress that judgements should be individualized, while referring to a few specific ‘warning factors’. The guidelines follow a ‘laissez-faire’ principle for the majority of FS cases, whereas intermittent therapy with diazepam and continuous medication with either phenobarbital or valproate are indicated in other limited cases meeting respective definite criteria.     

User satisfaction with a real-time automated feedback system for general practitioners: a quantitative and qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: The GRIF automated feedback system produces real-time comments on the appropriateness of diagnostic tests ordered by general practitioners (GPs) based on recommendations from accepted national and regional practice guidelines. We investigated the experiences of GPs with this system and, more specifically, with the recommendations produced by the system as well as their views on using this system in daily practice. SETTING: We tested the GRIF system in an experiment in a laboratory setting and in a daily practice trial. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: General practitioners. INTERVENTION: In the laboratory experiment, GPs used the GRIF system to assess the appropriateness of 30 request forms. Each of the GPs was confronted with requests they had submitted to the diagnostic unit of the hospital in the past. In the field trial, the GRIF system was applied during patient consultations for 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured GPs' satisfaction with the system using a questionnaire, and also conducted group discussions (in the laboratory experiment) and in-depth interviews (in the field trial) to elicit GPs' opinions of and experiences with the system. In addition, we explored GPs' reasons for not accepting the comments offered by the GRIF system. RESULTS: The results show that the GPs in the laboratory experiment had more positive attitudes towards the system compared with participants in the field trial. All discussion groups and most of the GPs in the field trial regarded receiving the immediate feedback during the test ordering process as an important advantage. The most frequently mentioned reason to reject the recommendation was disagreement with the content and/or the recommendations in the practice guidelines. CONCLUSION: Apart from securing agreement on guideline content, a prerequisite for using GRIF in daily practice on a large scale is that more attention is paid to promotion of the guidelines and their adoption, and stimulation of a positive attitude towards the practice guidelines among the users.     

Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders associated with dementia: EFNS guideline

The aim of this international guideline on dementia was to present a peer-reviewed evidence-based statement for the guidance of practice for clinical neurologists, geriatricians, psychiatrists, and other specialist physicians responsible for the care of patients with dementia. It covers major aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment, with particular emphasis on the type of patient often referred to the specialist physician. The main focus is Alzheimer's disease, but many of the recommendations apply to dementia disorders in general. The task force working group considered and classified evidence from original research reports, meta-analysis, and systematic reviews, published before January 2006. The evidence was classified and consensus recommendations graded according to the EFNS guidance. Where there was a lack of evidence, but clear consensus, good practice points were provided. The recommendations for clinical diagnosis, blood tests, neuroimaging, electroencephalography (EEG), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, genetic testing, tissue biopsy, disclosure of diagnosis, treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and counselling and support for caregivers were all revised when compared with the previous EFNS guideline. New recommendations were added for the treatment of vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies, for monitoring treatment, for treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia, and for legal issues. The specialist physician plays an important role together with primary care physicians in the multidisciplinary dementia teams, which have been established throughout Europe. This guideline may contribute to the definition of the role of the specialist physician in providing dementia health care.     

循证性临床实践指南的制定程序与方法研究

通过对英国国家卫生与临床优化研究所(NICE)、苏格兰院际间指南协作网(SIGN)以及指南研究和评价国际协作组织(AGREE)等国际临床实践指南开发与评价机构关于指南制定方法学的研究,介绍循证性临床实践指南的制定程序与方法,以期为中医相关指南的制定提供方法学支持.     

中医临床诊疗指南制修订现状调研、分析与工作建议

背景 2014年底,国家中医药管理局政策法规与监督司开展中医临床诊疗指南制修订工作,对中医13个专科领域的240项中医临床诊疗指南项目进行制修订,中华中医药学会承担本部分工作。目的 为了解中医领域临床诊疗指南制修订现状,从方法学角度对项目组工作中存在的问题进行分析并给出建议,本项目组对中华中医药学会中医临床诊疗指南制修订项目组进行调研。方法 2020年6—12月,以中华中医药学会中医临床诊疗指南制修订项目组为调研对象,每个项目组人员填写一份问卷,汇集项目组整体意见。采用问卷星电子问卷,通过中华中医药学会工作文件的方式下发通知至各项目组进行调查,网络端收取调查结果。围绕调研主题,问卷内容包括5大方面：对中医临床诊疗指南的认识、指南制修订程序和方法学应用、指南制修订工作重点问题和关键环节、指南实施推广和应用情况、指南制修订工作情况整体调研。问卷为半结构化设计,共30个结构化问题、4个开放性问题。调研完成后对结果进行数据汇总与描述性分析。结果 本调研最终收回有效问卷198份,调研结果提示,在对中医临床诊疗指南的认识上,大多数项目组（94.45%,187/198）认为本领域内依然需要更多的中医...     

营养不良老年人非药物干预临床实践指南

老年人是营养不良的高发人群,营养不良与众多不良临床结局密切相关,严重影响老年人的身体健康和生活质量,给家庭和社会造成沉重负担。因此,采取有效措施改善老年人的营养不良至关重要,非药物干预是改善营养状况的重要措施。然而,国内尚无专门针对营养不良老年人的非药物干预临床实践指南,因此,中国老年护理联盟、国家老年医学中心和国家老年疾病临床医学研究中心的营养专家,通过对老年人营养不良最新的国内外文献的全面检索与分析,采用推荐意见评估、制订及评价(GRADE)分级体系制订了本指南,针对营养不良老年人非药物干预提出9条推荐意见,以期能够改善老年人营养不良状况,提高生活质量。本指南侧重于可经口进食的营养不良老年人,聚焦于肠内营养,肠外营养不在本指南讨论范围内。