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Differences in Contents and Formation Methods of Clinical Questions in Chinese and Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines of Acupuncture-Moxibustion: Scoping Review

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To analyze the differences in the needs of users and the value orientation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) by comparing the contents and formation methods of clinical questions in Chinese and Korean CPGs of acupuncture-moxibustion (Acup-Mox).

Methods

The full text of CPGs was systematically searched from the official websites of Chinese and Korean traditional medicine societies and Acup-Mox associations, with the topic “Acup-Mox for treating diseases” and the retrieval time up to September 28, 2022. Two researchers screened the CPGs independently, and extracted the guidelines’ topics, content, quantity and formation methods of clinical questions. The quantitative data were collected by counting the frequency, and the qualitative data were classified and described by thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 29 guidelines were included in this study, including 20 Chinese guidelines (305 questions) and 9 Korean guidelines (223 questions). The differences lie in the aspects of content and diversity, and formation method. As for content and diversity, Chinese guidelines focused mainly on the questions related to treatment such as the operation of specific intervention (86, 28.2%), efficacy of intervention (78, 25.6%), and also involving questions in diagnosis, prevention, and prognosis. While the clinical questions in Korean guidelines were concentrated to efficacy of intervention (218, 97.8%). As for formation method, in Chinese guidelines, questions were usually collected directly from clinicians, and then determined and optimized by experts. In Korean guidelines, frequently used clinical Acup-Mox interventions would be screened first. Then the expert group would set up corresponding intervention control measures so as to form clinical questions related to treatment efficacy.

Conclusions

The differences reflect the different needs of clinical practitioners, and the different aims or concepts in developing Acup-Mox guidelines between China and South Korea. Chinese guidelines emphasized promoting operation protocols and techniques of Acup-Mox for practical use, while Korean guidelines emphasized promoting the frequently used clinical intervention therapies. It is speculated that the guidelines from these two countries would play different roles in guiding clinical operation and supporting medical decision. In terms of formation methods of clinical questions, it is suggested to attach importance to optimizing process in formatting clinical questions to improve the clinical applicability of CPGs of Acup-Mox.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China

    Nan-qi Zhao, Nan Ding, Jing-yun Yuan, Dong-xiao Mou, Guo-feng Dong, Xin Wang &  Xiao-dong Wu

  2. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-based Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China

    Ya-li Liu

  3. College of Acupuncture and Massage, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    Jing-yun Yuan

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  1. Nan-qi Zhao
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  2. Ya-li Liu
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  3. Nan Ding
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  7. Xin Wang
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Contributions

Zhao NQ is responsible for drafting of the manuscript, study design, guidelines retrieval and screening, data extraction and analysis; Liu YL is responsible for study design and methodological guidance; Ding N and Yuan JY are responsible for guidelines retrieval and screening, data extraction and analysis; Mou DX is responsible for full text translation and proofreading; Dong GF and Wang X are responsible for full text proofreading; Wu XD is responsible for study design, methodological guidance, and full text modification.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao-dong Wu.

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No conflict of interest exists in the submission of this manuscript.

Additional information

Supported by National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2019YFC1712200, No. 2019YFC1712201)

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Zhao, Nq., Liu, Yl., Ding, N. et al. Differences in Contents and Formation Methods of Clinical Questions in Chinese and Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines of Acupuncture-Moxibustion: Scoping Review. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 29, 1133–1141 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3641-0

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