Guidelines for evidence-based Chinese medicine clinical pathway report

Abstract

Clinical pathway (CP), as a standardized approach and clinical management process for disease diagnosing and treating, is being widely used with more relevant publications reported gradually. But different forms of CP reports may prevent the evaluation and spreading of CP. The authors recommend guidelines for evidence-based Chinese medicine CP report, including 18 items which form 5 big sections, by precise item selection and rigorous expert consensus. All these items can embody the principles of Chinese medicine and comply with the requirements of the clinical practice of Chinese medicine. All above are based on synthesizing the published literature systematically and analyzing the current status in this field, also according to the characteristics of Chinese medicine and methodology requirement of evidence-based medicine.

Exploring the methodology and application of clinical pathway in evidence-based Chinese medicine

“…Clinical pathway evaluation and revision system should be based on EBM and the best evidence available; this is called the Deming PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Action) Circle concept. Meanwhile, clinical practice following clinical pathway can help appraise the quality of the entire health care process in accordance with the key items that are evidence-based [20].…”

Translating evidence into policy in China: opportunities and challenges

“…The consolidated standards of reporting trials for TCM were published in both Chinese and English in 2007 and were updated in 2011 [6]. In 2010, based on the characteristics of Chinese medicine and the methodology requirements of EBM, the guidelines for evidence-based Chinese medicine clinical pathways were established [7].…”