Pediatric clinical practice guidelines in China: still a long way to go

Abstract

Clinical practice guidelines provide optimal patient care recommendations, which are important tools for promoting the equality of health care services and saving healthcare resources in China [1]. The evidence-based clinical guidelines are specific to clinical problems and are developed through systematic reviewing to help clinicians and patients make appropriate decisions. Chen et al. revealed several limitations in adoption and adaptation of Chinese Guidelines including (1) rarely using systematic review to support recommendations, (2) lacking information in conflict of interest, and (3) low adherence rate of clinicians to guidelines [1]. The overall quality of China's clinical guidelines still needs improvement compared with the European and American guidelines. China currently lacks capacity for evidence-based guideline development and coordination by a central agency. Most Chinese guideline users rely on recommendations developed by professional groups that lack demonstration of transparency, including conflict of interest management and evidence synthesis, and quality. Taking into account the development of the guidelines at the national level, the Standards Division of the National Health Commission of China commissioned the Evidence-Based Medical Center of Fudan University to develop China's guideline evaluation criteria in 2017. Chinese experts are expected to familiarize themselves with the rules for developing guidelines, and use evidence-based medicine methods to standardize the development of high-quality guidelines. I think that the quality of the clinical guidelines will be improved in the near future.The English version of the guidelines not only shows the world the epidemiological data, medical evidence and diagnosis and treatment models with Chinese characteristics, but also plays an important role in promoting international dialogue and expanding academic influences on a global scale.

A Clinical Nursing Care Study on the Prevalence of Rotavirus Infection and Acute Diarrhea in Vaccinated Chinese Pediatric Population from 2019–2022

“…Therefore, there is an urgent requirement for necessary pediatric clinical practice and nursing guidelines to improve the pediatric healthcare and pediatric nursing system in China. 44 In the present study, the assessment of nursing care in children infected with rotavirus implied that quality health care is important for all people, especially pediatric children with severe diarrhea. This is because pediatric children with severe diarrhea require special care for hydration to meet growth and developmental need.…”

Recommendations on off‐label use of intravenous azithromycin in children

“…The paediatric guidelines are particularly important for paediatric healthcare and for improvements in medical equality throughout China. 79 This guideline not only develops recommendations, but also faithfully reflects the current evidence regarding intravenous AZM use in children, which will help to improve clinical practice and encourage more well-designed and high-quality studies in the future.…”

Analysis of the Status and Trends of Chinese Clinical Practice Guideline Development Between 2010 and 2020: A Systematic Review

“…However, the previous studies assessing some CPGs in China have indicated that improvements in the quality, transparency, and usability of the guidelines are required which included identifying, appraising, and synthesizing the evidence underpinning the guideline recommendations, and paying more attention in dealing with and reporting conflicts of interest (3)(4)(5)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). The whole situation of CPGs development is unclear, especially in the recent decade including the extent to which CPGs in China currently utilize rigorous methods.…”