Table 1 Clinical guideline (CG) development organizations and procedures (respondents n = 48)

Contact source

(n = 114)

Published Chinese CG

17/74 (23.0)

CG developer recommendations

10/10 (100)

Clinical expert recommendations

21/30 (70.0)

Responder employment^a (n = 48)

Hospital

40 (78.4)

Research/knowledge production institution

9 (17.6)

Government

2 (3.9)

Region^A

(n = 48)

North China

16 (33.3)

East China

13 (27.1)

South Central China

12 (25.0)

Northeast China

3 (6.3)

Southwest China

2 (4.2)

Northwest China

1 (2.1)

Unclear

1 (2.1)

CG scope^B

(n = 48)

Internal medicine

13 (27.1)

Obstetrics and gynaecology

10 (20.8)

Clinical epidemiology

5 (10.4)

Paediatrics

4 (8.3)

Surgery

4 (8.3)

Oncology

3 (6.3)

Acupuncture and tuina science

2 (4.2)

Geriatrics

1 (2.1)

Ophthalmology

1 (2.1)

Nursing

1 (2.1)

Dermatology and venereology

1 (2.1)

Pharmaceutics

1 (2.1)

Chinese medicine

1 (2.1)

Unknown

1 (2.1)

Organizations

Category

n (%)

Type

(n = 48)

Professional/medical association

22 (45.8)

CG expert committee

21 (43.8)

Research institution

5 (10.4)

Development experience (n = 48)

> 10 years

21 (43.8)

3–5 years

14 (29.2)

6–10 years

7 (14.6)

< 3 years

5 (10.4)

Do not know

1 (2.2)

Use of a handbook^b

(n = 48)

Yes

30 (62.5)

No

18 (37.5)

Handbook used

(n = 30)

International organization (e.g., WHO, NICE)

14(46.7)

Not reported

6 (20.0)

CG development tool/methodology (e.g., GRADE, AGREE II, or GRADE-ADOLOPMENT)

4 (13.3)

In-house handbook

3 (10.0)

Expert experience and opinion

3 (10.0)

Guideline development unit (n = 48)

No

45 (93.8)

Yes

3 (6.3)

Development process^a

(n = 48)

De novo based on scientific evidence

43 (89.6)

Adapted from other CGs

36 (75.0)

De novo based on expert experience and opinion

31 (64.6)

Adopted directly/translated from other CGs

13 (27.1)

Updating of other CGs

13 (27.1)