Clinical application of Ganshuang granule in treatment of liver fibrosis: a protocol for developing an expert consensus

Background: Liver fibrosis (LF) is a common liver disease in humans, which can progress to cirrhosis and increase the risk of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Ganshuang granule (GSG) has been used in the treatment of various chronic liver diseases and has demonstrated antifibrotic activity. However, there is no expert consensus (EC) involving the clinical application of GSG for the treatment of LF that has been reported. Therefore, we plan to develop an EC based on strict procedures. Methods: The EC will be developed according to (I) Discussion on Issues Related to Clinical Experts Consensus of Chinese Patent Medicine, (II) Methods of Developing and Revising Expert Panel Consensus on Chinese Patent Medical Clinical Application and (III) The Reporting Standards for Expert Consensus on the Use of Chinese Patient Medicines in Clinical Practice (made by the China Association of Chinese Medicine). We will set up a Consensus Project Group, which constructs clinical questions to take into account population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO). Then search and evaluate the eligible literature. The draft recommendations will be developed using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) after evidence syntheses. In formulating EC, we will also take into account the results of peer reviews and declarations of interests. We will take the protocol as a roadmap to systematically develop evidence for the clinical application of GSG in the treatment of LF. Discussion: This will be the first EC developed for the clinical application of GSG in the treatment of LF, which will improve the clinical medication standards, and provide scientific and rational prescription medication guidance for clinicians engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of liver-related diseases. Trial registration: The present EC has been registered on the International Practice Guidelines Registry Platform (http://www.guidelines-registry.org/), with registration number IPGRP-2019CN020.