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Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2013, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (3): 157-167.

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Literature review and analysis of the application of health outcome assessment instruments in Chinese medicine

Feng-bin Liua, Zheng-kun Houa, Yun-ying Yanga, Pei-wu Lia, Qian-wen Lia, Nelson Xieb, Jing-wei Lia, Xiang-jing Zengc   

  1. a. Department of Spleen-Stomach Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of ChineseMedicine, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
    b. The School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New SouthWales, 2007 Australia
    c. Jiangmen Wuyi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Jiangmen 529000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2012-08-27 Accepted:2012-12-07 Online:2013-05-10 Published:2013-05-15

Objective

To evaluate the application of health assessment instruments in Chinese medicine.


Methods

According to a pre-defined search strategy, a comprehensive literature search for all articles published in China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was conducted. The resulting articles that met the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used for analysis.


Results

A total of 97 instruments for health outcome assessment in Chinese medicine have been used in fundamental and theoretical research, and 14 of these were also used in 29 clinical trials that were randomized controlled trials, or descriptive or cross-sectional studies. In 2 152 Chinese medicine-based studies that used instruments in their methodology, more than 150 questionnaires were identified. Among the identified questionnaires, 51 were used in more than 10 articles (0.5%). Most of these instruments were developed in Western countries and few studies (4%) used the instrument as the primary evidence for their conclusions.


Conclusion

Usage of instruments for health outcome assessment in Chinese medicine is increasing rapidly; however, current limitations include selection rationale, result interpretation and standardization, which must be addressed accordingly.

Key words: Treatment outcome, Health-related quality of life, Patient-reported outcome, Personal satisfaction, Questionnaires, Instrumentation, Traditional Chinese medicine, Outcome assessment (health care)

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