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ObjectiveTo evaluate the Chinese guidelines and consensus of rehabilitation medicine published in the medical journals in 2022 using Scientific, Transparent and Applicable Rankings (STAR). MethodsGuidelines and consensus which were developed by Chinese institutions or led by Chinese scholars were retrieved in databases of CNKI, Wanfang Data, CBM, Chinese Medical Journal Network, PubMed and Web of Science, in 2022, followed by screening for rehabilitation medicine field. The literature were rated with STAR. ResultsSeven guidelines and eleven consensuses were included. The STAR scores ranged from 11.7 to 69.6, with a median score of 25.9 and mean score of 28.3. There was a significant difference in the total score between guidelines and consensus (U = 12.000, P = 0.014). The score ratio was high in the domains of recommendations (73.6%), evidence (39.5%) and others (33.3%), while it was low in the domains of protocol (1.4%), clinical questions (12.5%) and conflicts of interest (13.9%). The score ratio was high in the items of listing the institutional affiliations of all individuals involved in developing the guideline (94.4%), identifying the references for evidence supporting the main recommendations (94.4%), indicating the considerations (e.g., adverse effects) in clinical practice when implementing the recommendations (88.9%), and making the recommendations clearly identifiable, e.g., in a table, or using enlarged or bold fonts (75%); and it was low in the items of describing the role of funder(s) in the guideline development (0), indicating information about the evaluation and management of conflicts of interest (0), providing tailored editions of the guidelines for different groups of target users (0), presenting the guideline or recommendations visually, such as with figures or videos (0), providing details of the guideline protocol (2.8%), assessing the risk of bias or methodological quality of the included studies (2.8%), describing the responsibilities of all individuals or sub-groups involved in developing the guideline (5.6%), indicating how the clinical questions were selected and sorted (5.6%), formating clinical questions in PICO or other formats (5.6%), making the guideline accessible through multiple platforms (5.6%), and declaring that the funder(s) did not influence the guideline's recommendations (8.3%). ConclusionThe quality of current clinical practice guidelines and consensus of rehabilitation medicine is poor, which should be developed in accordance with the relevant standards.
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ObjectiveTo investigate rehabilitation competence among trainers and trainees whom participated in the training program entitled National Training Program of Shortage Rehabilitation Physicians (NTPSRP) using World Health Organization rehabilitation competency framework (RCF). MethodsBased on RCF, a questionnaire was developed and administrated through network using Questionnaire Star. All the trainers and trainees who participated in NTPSRP were investigated in September, 2023. ResultsA total of 911 subjects were collected from 27 provinces, including 426 trainers (teachers) and 485 trainees (students). The average age of the teachers was older, with more years of work experience and professional experience in rehabilitation medicine. The degree and professional title of the teachers was also higher. The overall internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire was good (Cronbach's α = 0.988), and all the internal consistency reliability in five fields was good (Cronbach's α > 0.9). The five dimensional structure of RCF in the results was consistent with the prior model established by RCF theory. The self-ratings of all physicians in the five fields were higher than the median level, and was higher in the teachers than in the students [(3.42±0.68) vs. (2.73±0.80), P < 0.001]. Gender and years of experience in rehabilitation medicine were independent factors for the total score of the questionnaire. The total self-rating of female students was 9.65 points lower than that of the male (95%CI 4.386 to 14.914); and one more year in rehabilitation medicine would increase 1.78 points in self-rating (95%CI 1.140 to 2.419). ConclusionThe structure and content of RCF can be used to evaluate the competence of rehabilitation physicians. The teachers and students of NTPSRP are eligible to RCF. RCF-based evaluation can be used to guide the development of continuing education courses for rehabilitation professionals.
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Objective:To systematically identify and summarizes the weaknesses of the key aspects of Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial (IIT) quality management in China, and quantitatively assess these weaknesses with a synthesis of relevant evidence, thereby providing references for the subsequent establishment of a complete IIT quality management system in China.Methods:According to the Scoping review report checklist (PRISMA-ScR statement), we conducted a systematic literature retrieval and screening, data extraction, and result synthesis of IIT quality management issues after defining the research questions.Results:73 eligible studies were eventually included. It was found that the most frequently explored issues were a lack of guidance and support from methodological and statistical experts at the project initiation stage (60.9%), a lack of research funding or improper funding management at the project implementation stage (49.3%), mismanagement of archival materials at the project completion stage (70.0%). Meta-analysis results showed that after evidence synthesis, the incidence of irregular informed consent signing, untraceable raw data, delayed study progress, and protocol violation were all above 40%, but there was heterogeneity in the results.Conclusion:Some outstanding issues in IIT quality management need to be addressed. Future studies should conduct more practical research to obtain quantitative data, undertake demonstrative application of management protocols, further carry out pioneering exploration and research in the field of IIT quality management, and propose effective solutions and strategies to improve IIT quality.