Abstract

A major problem for Chinese primary health providers such as general practitioners has been the lack of a clear role within the entire health system, unlike in other countries where the general practitioner is rightly considered to be the cornerstone of the system and the gatekeeper to specialist services. In 2011 the national government of the People’s Republic of China issued a policy acknowledging the role of primary health and the general practitioner as a gatekeeper, with an inherent expectation of the provision of quality services. For the most part, this means that evidence-based practice will be increasingly relied on to supplement existing polices, practices, and prescribed care plans currently in use within many community health centers. This article explores the concept of hierarchy of evidence for use by general practitioners by considering the applicability of the findings of the systematic review “Mass media interventions for preventing smoking in young people” published by the Cochrane Collaboration in the context of the health systems in the People’s Republic of China, and in particular, the contribution general practice may have in addressing this issue.