Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: To improve care for patients in hospital, an evidence based nursing guidelines were developed. Using the nursing guidelines have already shown positive effects. To determine the quality of guidelines the Appraisal of Guidelines and Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument was developed and introduced. However, little is known about the methodological quality of these guidelines in China.
Objective: To assess the methodological quality of existing guidelines on nursing in China according to the AGREE instrument, so as to regulate the development on nursing guidelines and provide recommendations for nursing guidelines.
Methods: Multiple Chinese databases and Internet resources were searched for nursing. Guidelines included were published in Chinese from 1978 to December 2011. The methodological quality of the guidelines was assessed by two authors independently using the AGREE instrument.
Results: (a) 15 CPGs of nursing were chose for evaluation from a total of 612 references, Of 3 were translations, 12 were traditional Chinese medicine guidelines, but there were no evidence-based guidelines; (b) the number of guidelines was increasing each year and reached a peak in 2006, 4 guidelines in 2006; (c) The scores for each of the AGREE domains were: scope and purpose 29.86% (range: 16.67–100%); stakeholder involvement 23.15% (16.67–66.67%); rigour of development 17.37% (16.67–25.01%); clarity of presentation 21.18% (16.67–70.83%); applicability 17.37% (16.67–25.01%); editorial independence 18.06% (16.67–33.33%); and overall guideline assessment 20.28% (16.67–60.00%) (11 guidelines were not recommended, one guideline was moderate recommended).
Conclusions: The quality and transparency of the development process and the consistency in the reporting of nursing guidelines need to be improved. the quality of reporting of guidelines was disappointing. Only two guidelines clearly described the aim of the guideline and its target population, and one guideline development committees were relevant professional groups. However, many other methodological disadvantages were identified. In the future, nursing CPGs should based on the best available evidence and rigorously developed and reported.
Objective: To assess the methodological quality of existing guidelines on nursing in China according to the AGREE instrument, so as to regulate the development on nursing guidelines and provide recommendations for nursing guidelines.
Methods: Multiple Chinese databases and Internet resources were searched for nursing. Guidelines included were published in Chinese from 1978 to December 2011. The methodological quality of the guidelines was assessed by two authors independently using the AGREE instrument.
Results: (a) 15 CPGs of nursing were chose for evaluation from a total of 612 references, Of 3 were translations, 12 were traditional Chinese medicine guidelines, but there were no evidence-based guidelines; (b) the number of guidelines was increasing each year and reached a peak in 2006, 4 guidelines in 2006; (c) The scores for each of the AGREE domains were: scope and purpose 29.86% (range: 16.67–100%); stakeholder involvement 23.15% (16.67–66.67%); rigour of development 17.37% (16.67–25.01%); clarity of presentation 21.18% (16.67–70.83%); applicability 17.37% (16.67–25.01%); editorial independence 18.06% (16.67–33.33%); and overall guideline assessment 20.28% (16.67–60.00%) (11 guidelines were not recommended, one guideline was moderate recommended).
Conclusions: The quality and transparency of the development process and the consistency in the reporting of nursing guidelines need to be improved. the quality of reporting of guidelines was disappointing. Only two guidelines clearly described the aim of the guideline and its target population, and one guideline development committees were relevant professional groups. However, many other methodological disadvantages were identified. In the future, nursing CPGs should based on the best available evidence and rigorously developed and reported.