Reporting Specifications for the Diagnostic Criteria of Chinese Medicine Syndromes

Abstract Standardizing and objectifying the diagnostic criteria for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes is fundamental to establishing TCM standards. Syndrome criteria released in recent years have promoted the implementation and application of standardized syndromes to some extent. However, disparities still exist in the content, format, and development processes of these criteria, and unified studies on their standardization remain lacking. Currently, TCM research reporting specifications primarily focus on clinical research, clinical practice guidelines, and the use of Chinese patent medicines, while criteria for TCM syndromes are relatively insufficient. Therefore, this project drafted a reporting specification for the development of diagnostic criteria for TCM syndromes and revised it according to expert feedback, based on the guidelines for establishing diagnostic criteria and relevant syndrome standards. This specification is intended for researchers and reviewers in relevant disciplines to use when formulating, reporting, and evaluating syndrome criteria. It also serves as a reference for improving the accuracy, authority, and representativeness of syndrome criteria, thereby meeting the practical needs of both clinical and basic research.