• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2016

Objectives : In 2007, a survey of how Kampo was regarded in Japanese clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) was first conducted by the Special Committee for Evidence Based Medicine (EBM), namely the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine (JSOM). A manual for CPG development was also published in 2007 by the Japan Council for Quality Health Care, and the revised edition came out in 2014. The purpose this study is to review the current state in CPGs applied to Kampo after 2007, while focusing on how Kampo products being regarded evidence based branch of medicine by CPG developers. Methods : Sources include the Kampo CPGs website of Japan Society for Oriental Medicine (JSOM) and MINDS (Medical Information Network Distribution Service) website of Japan Council for Quality Health Care. Results : Among the 784 CPGs existing by the end of 2015, 91 CPGs were considered containing descriptions of Kampo. Furthermore, 28 type A Kampo CPG (KCPG) which had quality of evidence and strength of recommendation with references were found. Also, most of type A KCPGs relied on the MINDS Handbook for Clinical Practice Guideline Development that was published in 2007. Conclusions : The number of KCPGs are increasing yearly. However, there is still not much Kampo evidence found in CPGs in Japan. Overall, it could be said that we need to not only make evidence vertically but preach it horizontally well.