Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: the number of systematic reviews (SRs) published in the Cochrane Library about complementary and alternative medicine is increasing annually. However, there are few studies on knowledge translation and utilization in this field. How to select and translate high-quality evidence on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is of particular importance to clinicians, health policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders.
Objectives: the aim of this study is to use a WeChat application to translate the TCM evidence of Cochrane SRs on complementary and alternative medicine into Chinese plain language. Moreover, we aim to shorten the gap between evidence and practice, to provide practical guidance to Chinese medical workers and other stakeholders, and to give ideas and methods for researchers to carry out evidence translation.
Methods: we screened all SRs related to complementary and alternative medicine in the Cochrane Library based on preset criteria. Two review authors independently carried out data extraction, and only included articles related to TCM. The basic information and conclusions of the included SRs were then translated and presented concisely and visually on a public WeChat platform.
Results: there were 754 Cochrane SRs in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. A total of 128 SRs on TCM were included in the study, of which 72 focused on Chinese medicine, 49 on acupuncture and moxibustion, two on massage, and five on Qigong. Afterwards, we translated all included SRs into plain language summaries, which we sent to 100 to 200 medical workers, researchers and other stakeholders regularly through the WeChat public platform.
Conclusions: according to the 2018 WeChat Data Report, WeChat has over 1082 billion active monthly users worldwide. The use of the WeChat public platform can greatly facilitate the translation efficiency of Cochrane SRs in the field of TCM and bridge the gap between research evidence and clinical practice. The platform could supply definite and useful guidance to researchers and practitioners, contribute to scientific and effective clinical decision making, and provide better health services.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: no
Objectives: the aim of this study is to use a WeChat application to translate the TCM evidence of Cochrane SRs on complementary and alternative medicine into Chinese plain language. Moreover, we aim to shorten the gap between evidence and practice, to provide practical guidance to Chinese medical workers and other stakeholders, and to give ideas and methods for researchers to carry out evidence translation.
Methods: we screened all SRs related to complementary and alternative medicine in the Cochrane Library based on preset criteria. Two review authors independently carried out data extraction, and only included articles related to TCM. The basic information and conclusions of the included SRs were then translated and presented concisely and visually on a public WeChat platform.
Results: there were 754 Cochrane SRs in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. A total of 128 SRs on TCM were included in the study, of which 72 focused on Chinese medicine, 49 on acupuncture and moxibustion, two on massage, and five on Qigong. Afterwards, we translated all included SRs into plain language summaries, which we sent to 100 to 200 medical workers, researchers and other stakeholders regularly through the WeChat public platform.
Conclusions: according to the 2018 WeChat Data Report, WeChat has over 1082 billion active monthly users worldwide. The use of the WeChat public platform can greatly facilitate the translation efficiency of Cochrane SRs in the field of TCM and bridge the gap between research evidence and clinical practice. The platform could supply definite and useful guidance to researchers and practitioners, contribute to scientific and effective clinical decision making, and provide better health services.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: no