Investigation and Evaluation of Chinese Clinical Practice Guidelines Published in Medical Journals in 2019: Analysis on Dissemination and Implementation

  Objective  To analyze the status of dissemination and implementation of Chinese clinical practice guidelines published in medical journals in 2019, and to propose suggestions on promoting the dissemination and implementation of Chinese guidelines in the future.

  Methods  We analyzed Chinese guidelines published in 2019 on the following aspects: reporting the dissemination and implementation; being published in multiple journals, editions and languages. Besides, we also searched published interpretation reports related to 2019 Chinese guidelines so as to understand the status of dissemination and implementation of guidelines in China.

  Results  A total of 226 Chinese guidelines published in medical journals in 2019 were identified. Only 5.8% (13/226) reported the information on dissemination and implementation with 12 different strategies. Dissemination and implementation by academic conferences and social media were mostly mentioned and reported in 8 guidelines. As for the application of the strategies of dissemination and implementation, 12.4% (28/226) published in different journals; 9.3% (21/226) published different editions; 8.4% (19/226) published both English and Chinese versions. After search and screening, we included 48 interpretation reports, which interpreted 30 (13.3%, 30/226) Chinese guidelines. The median interval of publication time between the guideline and interpretation study was 5.5 months.

  Conclusions  The reporting rate of dissemination and implementation and the application of related strategies of Chinese guidelines published in 2019 were relatively low. We suggest that guideline developers should develop specific and detailed strategies on guideline dissemination and implementation, and follow the reporting guidance.