The China Center for Evidence-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine, as the only national-level center for evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine, joined forces in 2024 with five major international evidence-based institutions’ branches in China—Campbell China Alliance, Cochrane China Center, Lanzhou University GRADE Center, the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Centre for Evidence-based Nursing: A JBI Affiliated Group, and Best Practice Spotlight Organizations(BPSO)Host-Academic-CHINA—to establish the International Consortium of Evidence-Based Traditional and Integrative Medicine (ICE-TIM).
Tasks
1、Development and Selection of Evidence-Based Methodological Tools for Traditional Medicine
Framework Development:
We will lead the development of a comprehensive framework (Methodological Tool Framework/Methodological Tool Map/Methodological Tool Landscape) for evidence-based traditional medicine methodological tools, compiling existing tools and clearly showing their coverage in various stages of evidence-based research.
Tool Development:
Identify key areas that lack high-quality tools and organize relevant experts to develop evidence-based research tools for traditional medicine that meet international standards, standardizing various stages of evidence-based research for traditional medicine.
Tool Selection:
Select tools from already developed ones that are internationally recognized, supported by solid theoretical foundations or empirical research data, and can address specific issues in traditional medicine evidence-based research. Regularly release the evidence-based traditional medicine methodological tools developed or selected by the consortium.
2、Promotion and Application of Evidence-Based Methodological Tools for Traditional Medicine
Tool Promotion:
Under the consortium’s name, conduct evidence-based methodology training and promote the application of evidence-based methodology tools in clinical research, systematic reviews, guidelines, and standard development in traditional medicine.
Evidence-Based Research:
Consortium members should actively apply the tools released by the consortium in their own evidence-based research on traditional medicine, or provide technical support in the name of the consortium to guide other researchers in conducting evidence-based studies based on the tools, improving the scientific and transparent nature of the research.
Evidence Evaluation:
Use evidence-based methodological tools for traditional medicine to scientifically evaluate global evidence-based research outcomes in traditional medicine clinical trials, systematic reviews, guidelines, and standards.
3、Building a Talent Pool for Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine Research
Training:
Through academic training, continuing education, and specialized workshops, cultivate traditional medicine researchers and clinical practitioners who possess evidence-based concepts, knowledge, and skills, thereby improving the overall evidence-based research capabilities of consortium members.
Expert Team Formation:
Build and expand a team of experts in traditional medicine evidence-based research, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and providing cross-disciplinary and diverse solutions for complex evidence-based methodological research issues.
International Talent Introduction:
Attract international experts in the field of evidence-based medicine to participate in the development of traditional medicine evidence-based methodological tools, enhancing the international level and academic influence of the tools.
4、Academic Exchange and Collaboration
Academic Annual Conference:
Hold annual academic conferences organized by the consortium’s founding units, inviting global experts and scholars to share the latest traditional medicine evidence-based research findings, tools, and methodological advancements.
Policy Advocacy and Collaboration: Cooperate with government departments, health organizations, and industry associations to promote the development of evidence-based traditional medicine policies and practice guidelines, facilitating the integration and application of traditional medicine within health systems.
5、Knowledge Sharing
Building a Knowledge-Sharing Platform:
The consortium will establish and jointly operate an online knowledge-sharing platform for traditional medicine evidence-based research, collecting the traditional medicine evidence-based research results and methodological tools from consortium members, providing the latest information and resources in the field of evidence-based research, and promoting the sharing and application of knowledge.
Methodological Tools
ICE-TIM aims to build an international cooperation platform. Through in-depth cooperation with international evidence-based medicine research institutions, it will jointly develop and publish methodological tools suitable for evidence-based traditional medicine research, promote the high-quality development of traditional medicine evidence, and occupy the research high ground in the field of traditional medicine.
ICE-TIM has launched its first batch of methodological tools. These tools are:
No.
Items
Introduction
How to cite the tool
1
To address the urgent public health events or other emergency health decision-making needs, methods are proposed to shorten the guideline development cycle, focusing on combining clinical research evidence with human-experienced evidence to support scientific decision-making, while continuously updating the body of clinical research evidence to ensure the timeliness of the recommendations.
1. LIANG Ning,YAN Lijiao,ZHANG Yujing,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guideline for Chinese Patent Medicine（Part 1）： Development Status and Characteristics[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(01):44-49. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.01.009.
2. CHEN Yaxin,LIANG Ning,YAN Lijiao,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chinese Patent Medicine： 2.Establishment of Guideline Working Group and Management of Conflict of Interests[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(01):50-54. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.01.010.
3. HU Ziteng,LIANG Ning,YAN Lijiao,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chinese Patent Medicine（Part 3）： Identification of Clinical Questions[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(01):55-59. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.01.011.
4. ZHANG Fuqiang,YAN Lijiao,HU Ziteng,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chinese Patent Medicine（Part 4）： Evidence Retrieval and Evaluation[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(01):60-65. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.01.012.
5. HU Ziteng,LIANG Ning,YAN Lijiao,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chinese Patent Medicine（Part 5）： Retrieval and Synthesis of Key Information on Rational Drug Use[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(02):167-171. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.02.009.
6. ZHANG Yujing,LIANG Ning,YAN Lijiao,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chinese Patent Medicine （Part 6）： Formation and Presentation of Recommendations[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(02):172-177. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.02.010.
7. HANG Yujing,ZHANG Fuqiang,YAN Lijiao,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chinese Patent Medicine （Part 7）： Introduction and Interpretation of the Guideline Reporting Checklist[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(02):178-184. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.02.011.
8. ZHANG Fuqiang,HU Ziteng,ZHANG Yujing,et al.Methodology for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chinese Patent Medicine （Part 8）： Quality Evaluation with AGREE Ⅱ and RIGHT[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2024,65(02):185-191. DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2024.02.012.
2
In 2017, the RIGHT (Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare) initiative released reporting guidelines to improve the transparency and standardization of clinical practice guideline (CPG) development. As the demand for high-quality reporting of acupuncture CPGs increases, it is necessary to focus on specific reporting checklists and extend existing tools.
C. Tang et al., RIGHT for acupuncture: An extension of the RIGHT statement for clinical practice guidelines on acupuncture, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.05.021
3
This handbook focuses on the key role of evidence-based principles in the development of high-quality standards. It provides a detailed introduction to the methods, processes, and implementation steps, offering systematic guidance to standard developers and supporting the effective creation and implementation of standards.
BAI Zhenggang, ZHU Yumeng, CHEN Hao, et, al. One of the series of studies on evidence-based social intervention guidelines and standards: developing standards based on evidence-based concepts.New Medicine,2024,34(01):53-63.
4
This document provides technical guidelines for conducting effectiveness, safety, and economic evaluations of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) based on real-world data. It is applicable to clinical researchers, manufacturing enterprises, and decision-making departments in the field of TCM.
Technical Guidance for Real-world Studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine.T/CATCM 011-2021.2021.
5
The science communication model, based on evidence-based methods, developed a health science popularization work for stroke limb function rehabilitation. Its development process is scientific and rigorous, earning widespread recognition from healthcare professionals and patients, and providing valuable reference for the development of other health science popularization works.
YANG Dan，GUO Hai-ling，LI Xiao-hua，HAO Yu-fang，LIU Qian. Development of health science popularization works for rehabilitation of limb function in stroke patients. Chinese Journal of Nursing Education, 2022, 19(2):101-106.
These tools cover areas such as traditional Chinese medicine evidence production, translation, and dissemination, which will assist in guiding evidence-based decision-making in TCM clinical practice, particularly in the context of public health emergencies; the standardized reporting of guidelines in acupuncture; the development of evidence-based standards; the evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of Chinese patent medicines; and the creation of evidence-based health education materials. These efforts aim to standardize research methods and promote the high-quality development of evidence-based research in TCM.
Here, we sincerely call on evidence-based research institutions and academic organizations from all countries to join the ICE-TIM, jointly promote the development and application of methodological tools. Let us work together to promote the innovative development of traditional medicine in the global health sector and benefit human health.
Contact us at：itmctr@ccebtcm.org.cn
