Improving the Selection Model of Essential Medicines in China by Evidence-based Thinking

Objective To sort out the problems in the selection model of essential medicines in China,and to put forward some suggestions to optimize the selection model to ensure the rationality of the medicines in the essential medicines list.Methods The domestic and foreign literature on the selection of essential medicines was reviewed.Then,the opinions on the selection methods and results of essential medicines from foreign literature were investigated to make a comparison with the selection of essential medicines in China.Finally,the general and special laws of the selection process of the essential medicines were explored.Results and Conclusion It is recommended that the selection model of essential medicines in China should be further optimized,and the evidence-based thinking and methods should be utilized to enhance the scientific nature of the selection process.

An Overview of Narrative Medicine in China

This paper sketches the history and the author’s involvement in the development of narrative medicine in China.It also describes“narrative medicine with Chinese characteristics,”explaining why narrative medicine is regarded as a tool to materialize the medical humanities in clinical practice,and detailing the features of narrative medicine in China.The features include the wide acceptance of the“22334 model”of narrative medicine,and borrowing theories and practice from Traditional Chinese Medicine.Finally,the author argues that the medical humanities should be given a“Class-A discipline”status,and narrative medicine should be a class-B discipline under the medical humanities.

The Inheritance and Development of Chinese Narrative Medicine Practice to the Philosophical Wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Starting from the inheritance and promotion of Chinese life philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine wisdom by Chinese narrative medicine practice,this paper discusses the inheritance and echo relationship between the“close textual reading ability”in Chinese narrative medicine practice and the“four diagnoses”in traditional Chinese medicine wisdom,narrative mediation and the“mind-body holistic philosophy”in traditional Chinese medicine,and narrative wisdom and Dao Sheng in Chinese life philosophy.Meanwhile,by analyzing the stories of contemporary doctors’practice of narrative intelligence,this paper expounds that Chinese narrative medicine is a new model of medical education and clinical practice based on the absorption of Chinese traditional life wisdom and the essence of traditional Chinese medicine culture,and the integration of western narrative medicine concepts.It also advocates Chinese scholars to actively build the discipline of“narrative traditional Chinese medicine,”constantly translate the academic achievements to foreign countries,and create a good narrative ecology of traditional Chinese medicine.

Narrative Medicine Under the Guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory

This paper is an exploration into the practice of narrative medicine in the clinical setting guided by the theory and approaches of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).By adopting the theory of TCM,the author attempted to provide the patients with systematic treatment from the perspective of society-psychology-biology under the guidance of both the unity of Heaven and Man,and the unity of Xing(Body)and Shen(Mind/Spirit)through his clinical practice.Guided by yin-yang and Wu Xing(Five Elements)theory and focusing on the social relations of the patients for any possible relationships between patients’social,psychological and biological state,the author took the patients’emotion management as a point of departure and helped the patients recover both physically and psychologically by promoting positive transformation in patients’social,psychological,and biological state.A clinical case was provided at the end of this paper to demonstrate how the above theory was put into practice.Narrative medicine under the guidance of TCM theory can supplement modern medical humanity practices as well as extend the scope of modern medical treatment from the perspective of the unity of Heaven and Man,by enriching the content of narrative medicine,and promoting the medical model from biological medical model toward social-psychological-biological model.

Application of evidence-based medicine methods in integrative oncology research

To present the advances of evidence-based medicine and clinical research methodology in integrative oncology,we conducted a literature review of real-world studies of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in cancer care and summarized the available evidence.Pragmatic randomized controlled trials(pRCTs)and clinical registry studies are becoming more popular as they could compensate for the limitations of RCTs.Many RCTs of TCM for cancer treatment as well as systematic reviews have been published.The most investigated therapies are based on acupuncture,Chinese herbal compounds,and Chinese patent medicines.Acupuncture has a significant advantage in relieving cancer-related symptoms.Published studies focus more on improving clinical symptoms and laboratory indicators.However,the patient's quality of life deserves more attention.

Roles of Case Studies and Case Reports in US East Asian Medicine:A Narrative-Medicine Perspective

Recorded stories of the clinical encounter stretch back to ancient times.Throughout their history,these narratives have been called by different names,reflecting changes in format,function,and audience.This paper examines and explains the differences in two related forms of clinical writing as practiced by East Asian Medicine clinicians in the United States today-the case study and the case report.Each has its strengths and weaknesses;each is suited to different roles.The case study is ideal for education and the practice of narrative medicine,whereas the case report has played a vital role in propelling East Asian Medicine into the arena of modern scientific research.

Rethinking Yi’an(Medical Cases)as a Tool for Narrative Medicine in China

When narrative medicine(NM)was introduced into China,traditional Chinese medicine scholars found that the core concepts advocated by NM are manifested in Chinese yi’an.But why NM echoes with ancient Chinese yi’an?How can we better integrate NM into Chinese medical practices?To answer those questions,this article first investigates how NM establishes itself as a remedy to biomedicine by taking traditional healing models including TCM as its ideal Other.Then,the narrative traditions of both case histories and yi’an are examined respectively.This article argues that NM is searching for a lost tradition of narrative case histories,but yi’an functions as a living tradition of TCM.The Parallel Chart in NM,designed as a complement to the dehumanized hospital chart,is still based on a dichotomy of science and art and a conflictual doctor-patient model.But yi’an exemplifies the holistic and humane healthcare that NM hopes to achieve.A comparison of both genres also inspired us to rethink the genre of yi’an in NM.Thus,it is concluded that yi’an should be viewed as an epistemic genre integrating individualization and generalization,a bridge linking medicine and literature.And narrative yi’an can well serve as a tool for NM in China.It is also proposed that a thick description of yi’an be encouraged to further promote a pluralistic NM in China.

AfterWards:A Narrative Medicine Program at Johns Hopkins Medicine and in China

Narrative medicine is a multidisciplinary field of inquiry and practice based on the premise that medical care takes place in the context of stories.Research on narrative medicine training suggests that it conveys benefits such as improved communication skills and personal and professional growth to physicians,medical students,and other health care providers.Narrative medicine can promote empathy and trust between patients and physicians and foster self-care.In 2014,the author and a colleague started an ongoing inter-disciplinary narrative medicine program in the Children’s Center of the Johns Hopkins Hospital called AfterWards.The program,which meets monthly,is open to all on a volunteer basis.Through literature,art,and writing,AfterWards nurtures empathy,encourages reflective practice,and builds community among a diverse group of health care providers.Through a series of lectures and workshops at Johns Hopkins Medicine,Peking Union Medical College,and Fudan Hospital in Shanghai,the author has introduced AfterWards to Chinese medical educators and clinicians.Working with Dr.Marta Hanson,she created an AfterWards Facilitator’s Guide for the use of Chinese practitioners.A recent White Paper on Chinese health care indicates that an infusion of humanities-based education,of which narrative medicine forms a part,can help rebuild patient-physician trust.Recently,there has been an increase in interest in narrative medicine in the United States and China.However,more research is needed to demonstrate the impact of programs like AfterWards.Challenges to the implementation of narrative medicine programs remain,most significantly in terms of expertise,resources,and time.

The artificial intelligence evidence-based medicine pyramid

Several studies exist in the literature regarding the exploitation of artificial intelligence in intensive care.However,an important gap between clinical research and daily clinical practice still exists that can only be bridged by robust validation studies carried out by multidisciplinary teams.

Traditional Chinese Medicine as a Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis:From Empirical Practice to Evidence-Based Therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a common autoimmune condition with an elusive etiology.Conventional and biological disease-modifying drugs sometimes fail or produce only partial responses.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has long been used in China as a treatment for RA and is achieving everincreasing acceptance worldwide.TCM treatments are traditionally guided by the theory of treatment based on TCM syndrome differentiation;however,they remain a matter of empirical practice relying on TCM theories and doctors’own experience,which places severe restrictions on worldwide TCM application.Nevertheless,TCM is a treasure trove for drug discovery,particularly as a treatment for complicated human conditions.The discoveries of artemisinin as a treatment for malaria and of TCM–arsenic trioxide(As2O3)combination therapy as a treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL)are excellent examples of the great value of TCM.Regarding RA treatments,many Chinese medicinal herbs and their formulas,extracts,ingredients,and even single compounds have been used in clinical applications.Several Chinese proprietary medicines(CPMs)derived from TCM formulas or herbal bioactive components,such as the controlled-release ZhengQingFengTongNing(ZQFTN)Tablets,Tripterygium Glycoside Tablets,and Total Glucosides of Peony(TGP)Capsules,have been included in the National Health Insurance Directory of China,and show comparable therapeutic efficacies to those of western chemical drugs with fewer side effects.As TCM research has advanced,particularly in the use of multidisciplinary technologies,the scientific foundations and characteristics of the use of TCM to treat RA have been revealed,and the quality of TCM treatments have been increasingly enhanced.However,TCM generally lacks sufficient clinical and laboratory data to be consistent with international standards for quality,safety,and efficacy in order to support its application worldwide.Therefore,intensive basic and clinical studies on TCM are required.In particular,investigations that use cutting-edge technologies in analytical chemistry,biology,and biomedical sciences,and the development of randomized clinical trials(RCTs)and personalized pragmatic randomized controlled trials(PPRCTs)are necessary.Researchers should also collaborate to advance TCM from empirical practice to evidence-based therapy,thus consistently promoting TCM development and globalization in a vital,beneficial,and contributable manner.

Optimization of evidence-based research in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease with traditional Chinese medicine:A comprehensive review

Coronary heart disease(CHD) has severely impacted the lives and health of patients for ages. Although the modern methods used for the prevention and treatment of CHD have been increasingly perfected,clinical problems remain that require solutions. In the prevention and treatment of CHD with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), great therapeutic advantages have been demonstrated. However, the expression of its advantages relies on scientific evidence-based research and evaluation, which require further optimization and improvement. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively emphasize our understanding of the current deficiencies in TCM evidence-based studies and the necessity of adopting scientific evidence-based optimization methods for use in research. In this process, evidence should be produced in a standard manner, and the advantages of TCM patterns should be accurately stated because these factors contribute to efficient transformation and proper verification of the obtained evidence.Additionally, focusing on patient-oriented medicine and doctor-patient relationships is also essential.These methods are of great significance to prove the clinical efficacy of TCM and promote its development.

Calling into Question the Efficacy of Evidence-Based Medicine: Is It Always the Best Approach? Is That Really the Placebo Effect?

The techniques of evidence-based medicine (EBM) are being frequently used recently. The generally accepted theory is that if a medicine is not absorbed by the body, it will have no effect. However, the author has noticed that even when substances, including medicines, are not absorbed by the body, they can have a marked effect. In some cases, just bringing the substance close to the body can have an effect;in such cases, the efficacy of EBM for estimating the therapeutic value of medicines may be debatable. Therefore, a more accurate evaluation method should be devised. The author proposes that another group be introduced into trials. This group would include subjects who were exposed to but did not have an opportunity to absorb the medicine being tested.

Evidence-Based Medicine Research on Prescriptions in Synopsis of the Golden Chamber in the Treatment of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Purpose: Based on the National Natural Science Foundation of China, we collect and sort out the literature published in approximately the last 30 years, which use prescriptions in Synopsis of the Golden Chamber to treat pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This study provides theoretical basis for the treatment of PID;we recommend this achievement to colleagues. Method: Firstly, we searched and collected the literatures from last three decades in CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases, which are about classical prescriptions treating endometriosis. Then, by screening all the literatures, we obtained the clinical research literatures and individual case reports. Finally, we went through the internal quality of the two categories of literatures to get the dominant prescriptions. Using a retrospective study of evidence-based medicine research, we comprehensively collect literature, standardize the disease spectrum, classify the evidence, and then evaluate the internal quality. Results: We refine 4 prescriptions which commonly are used in the treatment of PID;in other words, they are also the clinical symptoms of PID: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan symptom, which manifests blood stasis and cold-damp stagnancy;Dang Gui Shao Yao San symptom, which manifests disharmony of liver and spleen, qi-blood stasis and damp obstruction;Da Huang Mu Dan Tang symptom, which manifests the gathering toxic heat and qi-blood stasis;Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San symptom, which manifests the internal toxic heat and qi-blood injury. Conclusion: This study is gospel for the patients with recurrent episodes of PID who can’t often use antibiotics. At the same time, it is also a green therapeutics which Chinese ancients dedicated to human medicine.

Planning a Patient-Centered Parkinson’s Disease Support Program: Insights from Narrative Medicine

Background: We desired relevant information from patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their caregivers for help in planning a long-term support program. Methods: We compared 3 ap-proaches: 1) a standard needs assessment questionnaire, the Camberwell assessment of need in the elderly, 2) an open-ended listing of needs, and 3) participation in a narrative medicine program in which health care professionals were involved. Results: On the questionnaire, patients reported physical needs as the most important while their caregivers were more concerned about psychological needs. The open-ended listings revealed additional needs, particularly access to re-liable information about PD and to opportunities to participate in clinical research. The narrative medicine process yielded a number of new insights and proposed solutions, particularly related to the heterogeneity of needs across individuals, the importance of providing hope, and the fact that caregivers expressed that their needs had been largely neglected. Participation in the narrative medicine sessions led to an increase in measured empathy by health care professionals, an im-provement in measured depression among PD patients, but a worsening of measured depression among the caregivers. Conclusions: We have identified important needs and potential solutions to be considered in providing long-term support to patients with PD and their caregivers.

Research in spinal surgery: Evaluation and practice of evidence-based medicine

Evidence-based medicine(EBM) is a common concept among medical practitioners, yet unique challenges arise when EBM is applied to spinal surgery. Due to the relative rarity of certain spinal disorders, and a lack of management equipoise, randomized controlled trials may be difficult to execute. Despite this, responsibility rests with spinal surgeons to design high quality studies in order to justify certain treatment modalities. The authors therefore review the tenets of implementing evidencebased research, through the lens of spinal disorders. The process of EBM begins with asking the correct question.An appropriate study is then designed based on the research question. Understanding study designs allows the spinal surgeon to assess the level of evidence provided.Validated outcome measurements allow clinicians to communicate the success of treatment strategies, and will increase the quality of a given study design. Importantly,one must recognize that the randomized controlled trial is not always the optimal study design for a given research question. Rather, prospective observational cohort studies may be more appropriate in certain circumstances, and would provide superior generalizability. Despite the challenges involved with EBM, it is the future of medicine. These issues surrounding EBM are important for spinal surgeons, as well as health policy makers and editorial boards, to have familiarity.

Thoughts on the Construction of Evidence-based Nursing Standard Plan for Dominant Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The evidence-based Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) nursing in standard plan is to be constructed by a combination of evidence-based thinking and expert consensus.(1) The symptoms of diseases with better curative effect in TCM and the nursing techniques of TCM based on scientific evidence can be preliminarily presented through bibliometric analysis.(2) Expert consultation letters can be developed based on bibliometric results, and symptoms of dominant diseases in TCM and TCM nursing techniques can be selected through those letters.(3) Based on the selected symptoms and TCM nursing techniques, the PICO can be determined, and then evidence search, evidence extraction, evidence analysis can be conducted and synthesized, and recommendations would be chosen.(4) The recommendation grade of each recommendation can be determined by applying the Delphi method and referring to GRADE.(5) The plan will be determined through discussions of experts. The construction of TCM nursing plan would make sure that TCM nursing is scientific, and internationalize TCM nursing.

Clinical effects of antidiabetic drugs on psoriasis:The perspective of evidence-based medicine

Psoriasis and diabetes shared common underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.Emerging data suggested that antidiabetic medications may improve the psoriasis severity in patients with diabetes mellitus.Several hypoglycemic agents including thiazolidinediones,glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists,dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors,and biguanides have been reported to make a remarkable reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score from baseline.This antipsoriatic effect could be mediated not only by the glucoselowering action of these agents but also via inhibition of keratinocyte over proliferation,increase expression of differentiation markers,suppression the immune inflammatory pathway,and blocking the calcium channels and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.On the other hand,there was no significant increase in adverse reactions associated with the treatment of pioglitazone or metformin.However,previous studies often had the relatively short duration of the trials,and did not have enough power to assess recurrence of psoriasis.Potential bias in the study and missing data could undermine the reliability of the results.Therefore,the appropriately randomized controlled studies with large sample sizes and long-term durations in various psoriasis patients are warranted for further support.

Medical futility in the era of evidence-based medicine

One definition of futility is any treatment that merely preserves permanent unconsciousness or fails to end total dependence of a patient on intensive medical care However, no agreement has ever been reached on what the exact defmition of futility is, as it is not only based on temporary values but also evolves into different subtypes, making it harder to define. The difficulty in dealing with futility problem is how doctors evaluate the futile situation, which is further complicated by lack of standards for specific diseases and experience-based prognosis, leading to subjectivity in evaluation for futility.

Addressing Burnout: A Narrative Medicine Curriculum for Millennial Medical Students

Medical school is a stressful time for physicians in training and correlates with an increase in rates of burnout.In addition to typical stressors,millennial students in particular may face additional challenges as studies suggest they tend to learn differently than their older counterparts.Teaching medical students’techniques to address burnout,and developing curriculum that addresses social media in medicine,may help students build skills to mitigate burnout during their future careers.Medical educators at the Stritch School of Medicine created a narrative medicine elective for students in their clinical years with this philosophy in mind.Evaluation of the curriculum from pre-and post-elective surveys showed that the elective was effective in addressing symptoms of burnout,specifically emotional exhaustion and depersonalization,and improved student comfort with social media as a medical professional.

Developing evidence-based medicine in Persian medicine: obstacles, challenges, and solutions andsolutions

Introduction:Considering the importance of evidence-based medicine(EBM)and the emphasis of Persian medicine(PM)experts on its use,this study was designed;to investigate the practice of PM specialists,the obstacles,challenges,and solutions of developing and using EBM in PM were also the aims of the present study.Method:In the present study,98 PM specialists,who work in Iran completed the electronic Persian version of the evidence-based medicine.The effective factors in the practice of specialists were assessed by Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney U tests.Results:The mean±standard deviation of age,graduation time,and clinical experience were 44.52±6.45,3.26±2.28,and 6.76±5.27 years,respectively.Evaluating the data showed,that 52 participants(53.1%)had not passed any EBM training courses.Social media,general and medical databases,textbooks,colleagues,and journal articles were used frequently in clinical practices,but the specific EBM-specific resources were neglected.Conclusions:More attention must be paid to produce scientific evidence,improving the infrastructures and health policies,and empowering PM specialists to apply EBM in their clinical practices.