Discussion on the Evidence Value of Textbooks in the Formulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Allergic Rhinitis / 中医杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and rationality of applying relevant diagnostic and treatment programmes from textbooks as evidence in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） diagnosis and treatment guidelines， using allergic rhinitis as an example. MethodsTextbooks published from October 1949 to December 2022， as well as TCM diagnosis and treatment guidelines published until December 2022 on allergic rhinitis were searched， and the contents of diagnosis and treatment related to allergic rhinitis were extracted. The similarities and differences between textbooks in different periods， between textbooks in different versions， and between textbooks and guidelines were compared and analyzed. ResultsA total of 12 national planning textbooks on TCM otolaryngology and 4 Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment guidelines on allergic rhinitis from 1975 to 2021 were included. The evolution of diagnostic and treatment programmes was shown by the textbooks in different periods. Since 2003， syndrome of latent heat in lung channel has been added in the published textbook， and TCM featured therapies， such as nasal packing， intranasal spray were enriched， as well as the contents related to prevention and prognosis. The main syndromes included lung qi deficiency and cold， spleen qi deficiency， kidney yang deficiency， and latent heat in lung meridian. The most common recommended prescriptions were Wenfei Zhiliu Pill （温肺止流丹）， Yupingfeng Powder （玉屏风散） and Cangerzi Powder （苍耳子散）； Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤）， Shenling Baizhu Powder （参苓白术散）； Shenqi Pill （肾气丸） or Zhenwu Decoction （真武汤）； Xinyi Qingfei Decoction （辛夷清肺饮）. A comparison of different versions of textbooks showed that the classification of syndromes was consistent， while the formulas were slightly different. The comparison between different versions of the current textbooks and the guidelines showed that the recommended prescriptions of the textbooks had more Cangerzi Powder， Xiaoqinglong Decoction （小青龙汤）， Zhenwu Decoction， etc.， while TCM featured therapies such as nose blowing， smelling， nasal plugging， nasal washing were enriched， and information on formula modification， prevention and adjustment， prognosis were also added， which can supplement the corresponding evidence for the guidelines. ConclusionTextbooks could serve as a strong supplement for the evidence-based development of TCM clinical guidelines. However， there is still a need for further research on the quality assessment system of textbook evidence to improve the credibility of its applicability of the guidelines evidence.