Research Of Theoretical Framework Of Dialectical Normalization Of TCM By Grounded Theory And Content Analysis

PurposeAnalyze the process of cognition and practice of well-known TCM specialistabout dialectical normalization of TCM. To build the theoretical framework ofdialectical normalization of TCM,by trying to extract aspect and methods on thebasis of clinical dialectical need from interview data.Approach the advantageand feasibility of Grounded Theory combined with Content Analysis used in TCMscientific research.MethodsThis research was divided into two stages.The first stage: A qualitative perspective was considered to be the mostappropriate methodology for this study.Using purposeful sampling,nine TCMspecialist who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed by semi-structuredquestionnaire.Data was analyzed by grounded theory.The process was a reflectiveand the findings were presented through the description and interpretation ofthemes and sub-themes.The second stage: quantitative research was supplemented, information fromqualitative analysis was classified and conversed to objective data，The collected data were analyzed by frequencies.Finally,the statistics wasexplained.ResultsThe theoretical framework of dialectical normalization of TCM have beenstructured initially based on grounded theory,and it containedassortment,concept,content and research methods of dialecticalnormalization.Dialectical normalization included two types,and there werediseases with TCM and combination of disease and syndrome.The concept ofdialectical normalization included definition of dialectical normalization,themeaning of scientific dialectics and the nature.The content of dialecticalnormalization included norms of diseases,syndromes,symptoms,microcosmicsyndrome differentiation and syndrome elements.The norms of disease includeddiseases’ names of TCM,etiology,pathogenesis,and correlation between TCM andwestern disease.The norms of symptom in the mode of combining disease withsyndrome included demarcation,terms,logical relation,collecting,classification and quantization and quality of life.The norms ofsyndrome included the names,intension and extension,diagnosticcriteria,constituent ratio and distribution,evolution and norms of symptomswhich constituted syndromes,and also relation between stage of the disease andsyndromes. Micro-differentiation(MD) included meaning,significance andexperts’attitude on MD.The research of syndrome factors included the norms ofsyndrome factors and law of combination. Research methods of DN included methodsof getting the syndromes and symptoms,syndromes’constituent ratio,definingsymptoms’ terms,classifying and quantizeing symptoms and signs,sortingsymptoms and signs,primary and secondary symptoms and also test method of DN.The theoretical framework of dialectical normalization of TCM was adjustedas follows based on Content Analysis. Central Content of norms of disease wereetiology and pathogenesis.The entry point of norms of symptom were theterms.Topics of work of dialectical normalization was diagnostic criteria of syndrome.Syndrome factors made content of dialectical normalization morecomprehensive and systemic.ConclusionIn recent years, the research of dialectical normalization of TCM had madegratifying achievements, but there were some problems.The most prominent periodin the study were strong contemporaneity and lacking of overall planning,so wecan put systemic theoretical framework of dialectical normalization of TCM asa reference,according to the five parts,20entries of content of dialecticalnormalization,to research for a single disease comprehensively to avoiddistributed research contents,so that work of dialectical norms was systematicand continuing.Revelations this study has generated to the research of dialectical normsare: structuring the theoretical framework of dialectical normalization willprovide organization structure,levels and logical ralation for it.Establishinga sound theoretical framework of dialectical normalization could guide toimprove and establish the system,thus expanding the scope of interviews orapplying other qualitative research methods in combination with quantitativeresearch,to validate and correct theoretical framework,constantly improve itmore comprehensive and objectively to reflect the real evidence of syndrome,sothat dialectical standardization of TCM become enriched and innovated to improveclinical diagnosis and treatment.