Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: May 13, 2025
Date Accepted: Feb 2, 2026
International Standards of Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Dysmenorrhea: Protocol for an International Standards
ABSTRACT
Background:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) functions according to the concept of holism and treatment upon syndrome differentiation and has achieved good clinical results in treating patients with dysmenorrhea which is a common gynecological disorder. However, there are currently no international clinical practice guidelines involving TCM therapies for dysmenorrhea. This study aims to establish a protocol for the development of international clinical practice guidelines for TCM therapy for dysmenorrhea.
Objective:
The protocol will provide a roadmap for the development of the first international clinical practice guidelines on TCM therapy for dysmenorrhea.
Methods:
The guidelines will be developed with reference to the "General Principles for Compilation of International Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for TCM Symptoms", the "General Principles for the Compilation of International Clinical Practice Guidelines for TCM Diseases", and in accordance with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Ⅱ (AGREE Ⅱ), together with the World Health Organization guideline handbook, and will make recommendations based on systematic reviews. We have established a guideline working group and will formulate clinical questions in the form of Participants, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes, and Study design. The recommendations will be developed through evidence retrieval, synthesis, and the Delphi method. We will consider the preferences and values of patients, as well as the costs and pros and cons of interventions. The guideline has been registered on the International Practice Guidelines Registry Platform (No.IPGRP-2021CN138).
Results:
The guidelines began in January 2022 and ended in January 2024. So far, literature search and two rounds of Delphi method have been finished. The protocol will provide a roadmap for the development of the first international clinical practice guidelines on TCM therapy for dysmenorrhea.
Conclusions:
The guideline will develop in accordance with this protocol, which may provide support and evidence for TCM treatment to patients with dysmenorrhea. Clinical Trial: The guideline has been registered on the International Practice Guidelines Registry Platform (No.IPGRP-2021CN138).
Citation
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