ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) applicability evaluation tool, a preliminary revised tool, by using it to appraise specific clinical guidelines.MethodsMedical staffs were sampled from relevant departments in domestic medical institutions to use tool to evaluate the two guidelines. Spearman-Brown coefficient of odd-even split-half method and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to evaluate the split-half reliability and internal consistency reliability. The convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated by correlation analysis and correlation coefficient comparison hypothesis test, and the structural validity was investigated by confirmatory factor analysis based on structural equation.ResultsThe split-half reliability of the evaluation tool was 0.86, and the Cronbach's coefficient of the whole tool and each dimension were greater than 0.7 for two guidelines. The success rates of tool convergent and discriminant validity calibration were 100%. In the second-order confirmatory factor analysis model, the χ2 and df were 3.38 and 2.46, the comparative fit index (CFI) were 0.872 and 0.974, the goodness of fit index (GFI) were 0.954 and 0.983, and the adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) were 0.846 and 0.959 for two guidelines respectively. Both standard root mean square residual (SRMR) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were less than 0.09. Both P values of RMSEA hypothesis test were greater than 0.05.ConclusionsThe evaluation scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the applicability of CPGs, which should be further evaluated in practical applications in the future.
In the process of evidence-based practice, the evaluation of evidence applicability relied on the subjective judgment of clinicians, while the systematic method of which was still in lack. The complex clinical information of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) enhanced the uncertainty and risk of applying evidence. Based on the analysis of the process of evidence-based practice, this paper introduced the method of TCM evidence applicability evaluation and used the raw data of clinical trials to develop a clinical prediction model to enable the assessment of the evidence applicability on individual patients. The establishment of individual evidence applicability evaluation method could promote the rational application of TCM evidence in the long term.
ObjectiveTo verify the existing domestic and foreign formulas of normal predictive value indicator for adult pulmonary diffusion capacity’s applicability at current stage in Kunming.MethodsBased on the pulmonary diffusion capacity parameters determination of diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of the lung (DLCO) collected from one-breath breathing test completed by 680 adults with healthy lung function and without any disease which may cause pulmonary diffusion dysfunctions in Kunming, the regression equation of adult DLCO normal predicted value in Kunming was initially established; the fitting degree of DLCO predicted value and measured value was verified; and the correlation between European adults (instrument-inherent ECCS93) and the normal predicted values of adult DLCO in Shanghai, Chongqing and Lhasa were calculated and contrasted.ResultsThe regression equation of adult DLCO normal predicted value in Kunming was initially established: for male, 0.483+0.063×height (cm)+0.041×weight (kg)–0.071×age (years); for female, 1.679+0.055×height (cm)+0.018×weight (kg)–0.060×age (years). The data collected from the one-breath breathing test were similar to the predicted values obtained from the normal adult male and female DLCO prediction formulas in Kunming, the difference was not statistically significant (tM=–0.167, tF=–0.436, both P>0.05), suggesting that the formula for predicting the value established in this study was valid and well fitted. The predicted value of adult DLCO in Kunming area was statistically significant compared with the adult DLCO estimates of European adults and Lhasa, Chongqing and Shanghai in China (FM=713.4, FF=1 442.2, both P<0.001). Lhasa had the highest value; Kunming was the second highest; instrument-inherent European area and Chongqing came to third and fourth; and Shanghai had the lowest predicated adult DLCO value (all P<0.001).ConclusionThe current predictive formulas for adult pulmonary diffusion capacity indicators in China and worldwide are not suitable for the populations in Kunming.
ObjectivesTo establish statistical analysis and result reporting model for evaluation of the applicability of the clinical guidelines. We conducted an empirical study for clinical guidelines for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in China.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted to select 6 to 8 doctors in geriatric, endocrinology, nephrology or related departments from medical institutions. The questionnaire was filled by doctors at a conference and electronic questionnaires were sent to those who did not attend the conference. Descriptive analysis was carried out for characteristics of evaluators, scores of each dimension, access to guidelines and factors affecting implementation. The Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test and Nemenyi test were used for multi-group comparison and pairwise comparison. Multiple linear regressions with the stepwise strategy were used to screen out the association factors.ResultsA total of 725 questionnaires were collected in this survey. There were 722 valid questionnaires with an active recovery rate of 99.6%. The results showed the accessibility score was lowest and the acceptability score was highest. The results of multi-group comparison and multiple linear regression analysis showed that familiarity with the guidelines was the influencing factor of each score (P<0.05). The guidelines were primarily obtained from academic conferences (52.1%), WeChat (45.4%), and biomedical literature databases (43.5%). Among the evaluators, 44 (41.9%) believed that there were implementation obstacles in the guidelines, among which 136 (18.8%), 134 (18.5%) and 133 (18.4%) believed that implementation obstacles were medical personnel factor, patient factor and environmental factor.ConclusionsIn this study, a data analysis and result report model for the assessment of the applicability of the guidelines is established to provide evidence for the development/revision of the guidelines.
Clinical practice guidelines are decision-making tools for bridging the gap between current best evidence and clinical practice. Studies have shown poor clinical applicability of existing guidelines, which may not be solved by improving the quality of guidelines alone. National medical management service guidance center is developing clinical practice guidelines of clinical evaluation system of construction projects, based on evidence-based method formulated by the target users of clinical guidelines evaluators’ applicability evaluation system of clinical practice guidelines. It aims to identify guidelines with high clinical applicability and provide the evaluation results of clinical applicability to developers and revisers of clinical guidelines, and then optimize the development and update, eventually improving the clinical applicability of guides and promote Chinese clinical guidelines in clinical application.
ObjectivesTo establish a tool for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines with the users of the guidelines as evaluators.MethodsThe research group formed a multidisciplinary team to establish an evidence- based tool for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines through systematic evaluation and two rounds of Delphi expert consultation and external audit.ResultsThe established tool consisted: evaluator basic information (12 items); clinical applicability evaluation (12 items, including availability, readability, acceptability, feasibility and overall evaluation); and scoring scheme.ConclusionsThis study has established a tool for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines with the users of the guidelines as evaluators and provides criteria and methods for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines.
ObjectiveTo explore impact factors related to the clinical applicability of guidelines, and provide suggestions for better development and implementation of guidelines. MethodsThe CNKI database was electronically searched to collect clinical guidelines issued by the Chinese Medical Association and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association from 2015 to 2020. Sixty-one guidelines were randomly selected from included guidelines and each guideline was evaluated by medical staff from three regions using the instrument for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines (version 2.0). Statistical data were described, and t-test or rank sum test or chi-square test were used for comparison between groups. The impact factors were screened by stepwise logistic regression analysis. ResultsA total of 6 904 valid questionnaires were collected from 119 medical institutions in 26 provinces of China. The more familiar with the guidelines and the more consistent with the wishes of patients or their families, the overall standardized score of the clinical applicability of guidelines would be higher. In addition, the more familiar with the guidelines, the standardized scores in each field would be higher. The higher emphasis on guidelines compliance, the higher the feasibility standardized score. ConclusionIn order to improve the clinical applicability of guidelines, developers should pay attention to whether the recommendations are consistent with the wishes of patients or their families. Then, medical institutions should pay attention to the compliance of guidelines. Finally, medical personnel should be familiar with the recommendations.
ObjectivesTo investigate the current status of the clinical applicability evaluation tools, and to provide some foundation for establishment of the clinical applicability evaluation index system.Methods7 databases, 6 guideline databases and 16 academic institutions and the administrative department of health website were systematically searched from inception to April 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and then included the literature related to the applicability of clinical guidelines. The CPG clinical applicability evaluation index was initially prepared through the subject comprehensive method.ResultsA total of 19 articles were finally included. Among them, there were 4 evaluation tools for the clinical applicability of the guidelines, and 15 evaluation tools for the guideline clinical applicability evaluation items. Through combing and comparison, we found that these tools had differences in evaluators, evaluation fields and items.ConclusionsThe global guidelines for clinical applicability assessment tools have different kinds of problems, such as that the tools are not targeted, the indicators are not well-formed, and the methodological knowledge requirement of the evaluators is high. There is still a lack of guidelines for clinical applicability assessment tools from target users’ view.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the clinical applicability of the global guidelines evaluation index system, and to provide some foundation for the evidence-based establishment of the clinical applicability evaluation index system in China. MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect literature on the clinical applicability evaluation index system of guidelines from inception to November 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and then organized the data to form the evaluation items pool through qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis. ResultsA total of 82 articles were finally included, and 141 clinical applicability evaluation indicators were obtained, including 5 third-level topics, 14 analytical topics and 141 descriptive topics. The third-level topics were availability, readability, feasibility, acceptability and overall evaluation. Influencing factors in the feasibility field were summarized as medical staff factors, patient/patient family factors, environmental factors and guideline factors. ConclusionThis study systematically sort out the applicability evaluation items of the guidelines, which provide an evidence-based reference for the construction of relevant evaluation index systems in China.
Objective To evaluate the clinical applicability of clinical practice guidelines in China in the past 5 years, and to provide suggestions for better development and implementation of guidelines. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 61 guidelines issued by the Chinese Medical Association and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association from 2015 to 2020 were selected randomly based on CNKI database. Each guideline was evaluated by medical staff from three regions using the instrument for evaluating clinical applicability of guidelines (version 2.0). Quantitative data were described by mean, standard deviation, median and interquartile range, while qualitative data were described by frequency and composition ratio. Results A total of 6 904 valid questionnaires were collected from 119 medical institutions in 26 provinces of China. The results showed that the standardized scores ranged from 54.4% to 72.7% (median 64.3%) for accessibility, from 66.1% to 83.3% (median 74.9%) for readability, from 53.7% to 94.7% (median 86.0%) for acceptability, and ranged from 61.4% to 81.0% (median 72.5%) for feasibility. Approximately 4.3% of the medical staff considered that there were obstacles to implement the guidelines, including environmental factors (32.1%), medical staff factors (26.5%), guidelines factors (22.5%), and patients or family factors (18.9%). Conclusion The overall clinical applicability of the guidelines selected in this study is satisfactory. However, it is necessary to improve the accessibility of clinical guidelines. In addition, to improve the clinical applicability, it is suggested that medical staff should be trained and provided with supporting resources.