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Introduction: Integrated medicine has become an important issue in this century. In order to bridge the gap between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern medicine, we have established a first final version of a Yang-Xu constitution questionnaire, the BCQ+, in a previous study. The objective of the present investigation is to assess the reliability and validity of the BCQ+. Participants and Methods: A total of 1,310 eligible participants, aged between 20–60, no disease onset in the past month, who received health examination in teaching hospitals were recruited. The BCQ+ was developed and psychometrically evaluated to ascertain and validate the factor structure of the BCQ+. Furthermore, the reliability and validity of the BCQ+ were examined. Results: 19 items from the BCQ+ were developed. Exploratory factor analysis identified 5 primary domains that represent the Yang-Xu constitution and correspond to the diminishing energy levels of 5 different body areas: head, chest, limbs, abdominal cavity, and body surface. Cronbach’s αranged between 0.55–0.88 and the intraclass correlation coefficients were >0.7 for most of the 19 questions. The diagnoses of Yang-Xu by the BCQ+ and an experienced TCM doctor were consistent. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was used as an indicator of concurrent validity of the BCQ+, and it was found that higher Yang-Xu scores were associated with a lower SBP. Conclusions: Five domains with 19 items in the BCQ+ were developed. The BCQ+ is a valid and potentially useful tool for evaluating the Yang-Xu constitution in clinical practice and research.

Background: Based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory and guided by the principles of modern medicine (MM), we aimed to develop an effective and reliable diagnostic tool using self-reported data in order to assess the Yin-Xu body constitution. In this study, we further evaluated a provisional 22-item version of the Yin-Xu Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ–) previously derived from the Delphi process. Methods: A total of 1,272 eligible participants aged between 20 and 60 years was recruited. The participants had received health examination in teaching hospitals and had not shown any disease onset in the prior month. The factor structure of the BCQ– was explored, and the reliability and validity of each derived factor (scale) were evaluated. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed 5 factors corresponding to the manifestations of the diminishing Yin-Xu level in 5 different body areas: head, 4 limbs, gastrointestinal tract, body surface, and abdominal cavity. 3 items with low factor loading (<0.4) were dropped, resulting in a 19-item BCQ–. Cronbach’s α ranged from 0.57 to 0.85, and the intra-class correlation coefficients were greater than 0.7 for most items. The diagnoses of Yin-Xu by both the BCQ– and experienced TCM doctors were consistent. The concurrent validity showed that higher Yin-Xu scores were associated with lower hemoglobin. Conclusions: The final BCQ– measures the Yin-Xu constitution of 5 different body areas. The questionnaire is a reliable, valid, and potentially useful instrument for evaluating the Yin-Xu constitution in clinical research and practice.

BackgroundInfections such as common colds, influenza, acute upper respiratory infections, bacterial gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections are usually diagnosed according to patients’ signs and symptoms. This study aims to develop a scale for the diagnosis of infectious diseases based on the six excesses (Liu Yin) etiological theory of Chinese medicine (CM) by the Delphi method.MethodsA total of 200 CM-guided diagnostic items measuring signs and symptoms for infectious diseases were compiled from CM literature archives from the Han to Ming dynasties, CM textbooks in both China and Taiwan, and journal articles from the China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database. The items were based on infections and the six excesses (Liu Yin) etiological theory, i.e., Feng Xie (wind excess), Han Xie (coldness excess), Shu Xie (summer heat excess), Shi Xie (dampness excess), Zao Xie (dryness excess), and Huo Xie (fire excess). The items were further classified into the six excess syndromes and reviewed via a Delphi process to reach consensus among CM experts.ResultsIn total, 178 items with a mean or median rating of 7 or above on a scale of 1–9 from a panel of 32 experts were retained. The numbers of diagnostic items in the categories of Feng (wind), Han (coldness), Shu (summer heat), Shi (dampness), Zao (dryness), and Huo (fire) syndromes were 15, 22, 25, 37, 17, and 62, respectively.ConclusionsA CM-based six excesses (Liu Yin) evaluation and diagnosis (SEED) scale was developed for the evaluation and diagnosis of infectious diseases based only on signs and symptoms.