Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39909408›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2025

Core Outcome Set Development for Tension-Type Headache Treatment Using Traditional Chinese Medicine: Protocol for a Delphi Consensus Study.

Guojing Fu, Yunmeng Chen, Xiao Liang, Chunli Guo, Xueming Fan, Xiao Gong, Wenjie Chen, Jing Teng, Jun Tang, Xing Liao and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Guojing Fu *Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-6313-2495
Yunmeng Chen *Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0009-0001-6015-6408
Xiao LiangXiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5608-8038
Chunli GuoXiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0238-2378
Xueming FanXiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1126-0698
Xiao GongXiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0009-0009-5843-4761
Wenjie ChenXiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0009-0006-9587-2566
Jing TengAffiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8514-4406
Jun TangChongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, China.ORCID 0009-0001-4878-2246
Xing LiaoCenter for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5745-755X
Jingjing Wei *Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0003-2020-8397
Yunling Zhang *Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9709-9566

Funding

HSRD VA CDA 13-024
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTension-type headache (TTH) is the most common type of headache and the second most common health-related complaint among children and adults. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers unique therapeutic benefits in treating TTH. However, the lack of standardized evidence-such as inconsistencies in outcome selection and reporting in clinical studies, a lack of consensus on outcomes and measures, high risks of selective reporting bias, and missing data-has limited the development of robust evidence supporting the efficacy of TCM in treating TTH. Therefore, establishing a core outcome set (COS) is crucial for standardizing TCM clinical studies for TTH, thereby enhancing the quality and comparability of research findings.

objectiveThis study aims to develop a COS for future clinical studies on the treatment of TTH with TCM.

methodsThe COS will be developed through the following 3 stages. First, systematic reviews and semistructured interviews will be conducted to identify potential essential outcomes, which will be evaluated by the steering committee to finalize a preliminary list of outcomes. Data will be processed using thematic analysis to ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant outcomes. Second, a 2-round Delphi survey will be conducted, inviting stakeholders, including health care experts and patients with tension-type headaches, to determine the importance of each outcome. Statistical analysis will be used to assess the level of consensus and prioritize outcomes based on predefined criteria. Third, a face-to-face consensus meeting will be held to finalize the COS and recommend measurement times for each outcome. Key outcomes will be interpreted based on their clinical relevance and feasibility of measurement, ensuring the COS is comprehensive and applicable in clinical settings.

resultsThe protocol has been registered in PROSPERO, with the review commencing on October 1, 2024, and anticipated results by November 15, 2024. The systematic reviews will be finalized, followed by the Delphi survey and consensus conference in late 2024 and early 2025. The COS findings will be reported per COS-STAR (Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Reporting) guidelines, published in an international journal, presented at conferences, and disseminated to participants for clinical application.

conclusionsThis study is necessary as developing a COS for future TCM clinical studies in the treatment of TTH can maximize the value of data from individual trials and provide high-quality research evidence.

trial registrationCore Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials Initiative 1473; https://tinyurl.com/3ts62s2p. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/63481.

Indexed as

Medicine, Chinese TraditionalTension-Type HeadacheConsensus Statements as TopicDelphi TechniqueHumansOutcome Assessment, Health CareResearch DesignSystematic Reviews as TopicTreatment Outcomecore outcome setDelphiprotocolsystematic reviewtension-type headachetraditional Chinese medicine

Identifiers

PMID39909408
PMCPMC11840383

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.