Objective:To analyze the safety of paclitaxel-based, hyperthermic, intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy (HIPEC) after radical resection of locally advanced gastric cancer.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study of clinicopathological data of 467 patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma who had been admitted to the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University between July 2019 and April 2021. Among these patients, 151 had undergone radical resection combined with post-operative paclitaxel-based HIPEC (surgery+HIPEC group) and 316 radical resection alone (surgery group). The adverse perioperative events in study patients were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 5.0) published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients in the surgery+HIPEC group according to the number of times HIPEC was administered and the incidence of adverse events was compared between subgroups using the χ 2 test. Independent risk factors for paclitaxel-based HIPEC-associated adverse events were identified by applying a logistic model. Results:In the surgery+HIPEC group, there were 113 (74.8%) male and 38 (25.2%) female patients of median age 64 (55, 68) years, 18 (11.9%), 79 (52.3%), and 54 (35.8%) of whom had undergone one, two, and three paclitaxel-based HIPEC treatments, respectively, after surgery. The median maximum tumor diameter was 5.0 (3.6, 6.5) cm. In the surgery group, there were 244 (77.2%) male and 72 (22.8%) female patients of median age 63 (54, 68) and the median maximum tumor diameter was 4.0 (3.0, 5.5) cm. In the surgery+HIPEC group, 112 patients (74.2%) had 198 Grade 2 or higher adverse perioperative events, postoperative hypoalbuminemia being the commonest (85 cases, 56.3%), followed by postoperative anemia (50 cases, 33.1%). Compared with the surgery group, the incidences of postoperative hypoalbuminemia (56.3% [85/151] vs. 37.7% [119/316], χ 2=14.420, P<0.001), anemia (33.1% [50/151] vs. 22.5% [71/316], χ 2=6.030, P=0.014), abdominal pain [7.3% [11/151] vs. 1.6% [5/316], χ 2=10.042, P=0.002) and abdominal distension (5.3% [8/151] vs. 1.3% [4/316], χ 2=5.123, P=0.024) were all significantly higher in the surgery+HIPEC group. Analysis of the three HIPEC subgroups revealed significant differences in the incidences of postoperative hypoalbuminemia (13/18 vs. 67.1% [53/79] vs. 35.2% [19/54], χ 2=12.955, P<0.001) and pulmonary infection (6/18 vs. 6.3% [5/79] vs. 1.9% [1/54], χ 2=13.232, P<0.001) between them. Univariate analysis identified body mass index, Borrmann's type and number of HIPEC treatments as associated with perioperative adverse events in the surgery+HIPEC group ( P<0.05). However, according to multifactorial logistic analysis, the above factors were not independent risk factors for perioperative adverse events in the surgery+HIPEC group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Paclitaxel-based HIPEC after radical resection significantly increases the risk of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, anemia, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension in patients who have undergone excision of locally advanced gastric cancer. However, increasing the frequency of HIPEC treatments did not significantly increase the risk of paclitaxel-based HIPEC-related adverse events. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analysis did not identify any independent risk factors for paclitaxel HIPEC-related adverse events.

Objective:To analyze the safety of paclitaxel-based, hyperthermic, intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy (HIPEC) after radical resection of locally advanced gastric cancer.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study of clinicopathological data of 467 patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma who had been admitted to the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University between July 2019 and April 2021. Among these patients, 151 had undergone radical resection combined with post-operative paclitaxel-based HIPEC (surgery+HIPEC group) and 316 radical resection alone (surgery group). The adverse perioperative events in study patients were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 5.0) published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients in the surgery+HIPEC group according to the number of times HIPEC was administered and the incidence of adverse events was compared between subgroups using the χ 2 test. Independent risk factors for paclitaxel-based HIPEC-associated adverse events were identified by applying a logistic model. Results:In the surgery+HIPEC group, there were 113 (74.8%) male and 38 (25.2%) female patients of median age 64 (55, 68) years, 18 (11.9%), 79 (52.3%), and 54 (35.8%) of whom had undergone one, two, and three paclitaxel-based HIPEC treatments, respectively, after surgery. The median maximum tumor diameter was 5.0 (3.6, 6.5) cm. In the surgery group, there were 244 (77.2%) male and 72 (22.8%) female patients of median age 63 (54, 68) and the median maximum tumor diameter was 4.0 (3.0, 5.5) cm. In the surgery+HIPEC group, 112 patients (74.2%) had 198 Grade 2 or higher adverse perioperative events, postoperative hypoalbuminemia being the commonest (85 cases, 56.3%), followed by postoperative anemia (50 cases, 33.1%). Compared with the surgery group, the incidences of postoperative hypoalbuminemia (56.3% [85/151] vs. 37.7% [119/316], χ 2=14.420, P<0.001), anemia (33.1% [50/151] vs. 22.5% [71/316], χ 2=6.030, P=0.014), abdominal pain [7.3% [11/151] vs. 1.6% [5/316], χ 2=10.042, P=0.002) and abdominal distension (5.3% [8/151] vs. 1.3% [4/316], χ 2=5.123, P=0.024) were all significantly higher in the surgery+HIPEC group. Analysis of the three HIPEC subgroups revealed significant differences in the incidences of postoperative hypoalbuminemia (13/18 vs. 67.1% [53/79] vs. 35.2% [19/54], χ 2=12.955, P<0.001) and pulmonary infection (6/18 vs. 6.3% [5/79] vs. 1.9% [1/54], χ 2=13.232, P<0.001) between them. Univariate analysis identified body mass index, Borrmann's type and number of HIPEC treatments as associated with perioperative adverse events in the surgery+HIPEC group ( P<0.05). However, according to multifactorial logistic analysis, the above factors were not independent risk factors for perioperative adverse events in the surgery+HIPEC group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Paclitaxel-based HIPEC after radical resection significantly increases the risk of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, anemia, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension in patients who have undergone excision of locally advanced gastric cancer. However, increasing the frequency of HIPEC treatments did not significantly increase the risk of paclitaxel-based HIPEC-related adverse events. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analysis did not identify any independent risk factors for paclitaxel HIPEC-related adverse events.

BACKGROUND: The results of studies comparing Billroth-I (B-I) with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction on the quality of life (QoL) are still inconsistent. The aim of this trial was to compare the long-term QoL of B-I with R-Y anastomosis after curative distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 140 patients undergoing curative distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from May 2011 to May 2014 were randomly assigned to the B-I group ( N  = 70) and R-Y group ( N  = 70). The follow-up time points were 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after the operation. The final follow-up time was May 2019. The clinicopathological features, operative safety, postoperative recovery, long-term survival as well as QoL were compared, among which QoL score was the primary outcome. An intention-to-treat analysis was applied. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, and postoperative recovery between the two groups. Less estimated blood loss and shorter surgical duration were found in the B-I group. There were no statistically significant differences in 5-year overall survival (79% [55/70] of the B-I group vs. 80% [56/70] of the R-Y group, P  = 0.966) and recurrence-free survival rates (79% [55/70] of the B-I group vs. 78% [55/70] of the R-Y group, P  = 0.979) between the two groups. The scores of the global health status of the R-Y group were higher than those of the B-I group with statistically significant differences (postoperative 1 year: 85.4 ± 13.1 vs . 88.8 ± 16.1, P  = 0.033; postoperative 3 year: 87.3 ± 15.2 vs . 92.8 ± 11.3, P  = 0.028; postoperative 5 year: 90.9 ± 13.7 vs . 96.4 ± 5.6, P  = 0.010), and the reflux (postoperative 3 year: 8.8 ± 12.9 vs . 2.8 ± 5.3, P  = 0.001; postoperative 5 year: 5.1 ± 9.8 vs . 1.8 ± 4.7, P  = 0.033) and epigastric pain (postoperative 1 year: 11.8 ± 12.7 vs. 6.1 ± 8.8, P  = 0.008; postoperative 3 year: 9.4 ± 10.6 vs. 4.6 ± 7.9, P  = 0.006; postoperative 5 year: 6.0 ± 8.9 vs . 2.7 ± 4.6, P  = 0.022) were milder in the R-Y group than those of the B-I group at the postoperative 1, 3, and 5-year time points. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with B-I group, R-Y reconstruction was associated with better long-term QoL by reducing reflux and epigastric pain, without changing survival outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-10001434.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y/methods* ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Postoperative Complications ; Gastroenterostomy/methods* ; Pain

In recent years, neoadjuvant therapy, which can reduce the tumor stage, increase the surgical resection rate and the proportion of radical resection, reduce the risk of tumor recurrence and metastasis thus bringing survival benefit for local advanced gastric cancer patients, plays increasingly important roles in the comprehensive treatment of gastric cancer. In China, the early diagnosis rate of gastric cancer is particularly low and most patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed as locally advanced. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to discuss the current status and challenges of neoadjuvant therapy in gastric cancer. Combined with the existing clinical research results and guidelines and consensus, the authors analyze the application of neoadjuvant therapy in the comprehensive treatment of gastric cancer. Currently, more high-quality clinical trials are still needed to answer the questions related to neoadjuvant therapy of gastric cancer, such as the indication and regimen, and the optimal cycles and doses of agents, combination of targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Furthermore, how to tailor the individualized treatment strategies according to the pathological stages, molecular characteristics and gene polymophism of patients are still the problems unsolved nowadays. The authors comprehensively analyze the literature at home and abroad to deeply explore the current status and challenges of neoadjuvant therapy in gastric cancer.

Objective:To explore the effect of standardized surgical treatment and multidisciplinary treatment strategy on the treatment outcomes of gastric cancer patients.Methods:A single-center cohort study was carried out. Clinicopathological and long-term follow up data of primary gastric cancer patients were retrieved from the database of Surgical Gastric Cancer Patient Registry (SGCPR) in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Finally, 4516 gastric cancer patients were included and were divided into three groups according to time periods (period 1 group: exploration stage of standardized surgical treatment, 2000 to 2006, 967 cases; period 2 group: application stage of standardized surgical treatment, 2007 to 2012, 1962 cases; period 3 group: optimization stage of standardized surgical treatment and application stage of multidisciplinary treatment strategy, 2013 to 2016, 1587 cases). Differences in clinical data, pathologic features, and prognosis were compared among 3 period groups. Follow-up information was updated to January 1, 2020. The overall follow-up rate was 88.9% (4016/4516) and median follow-up duration was 51.58 months. Survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meire method and compared with log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by Cox proportional hazards model.Results:There were significant differences among period 1, period 2 and period 3 groups in the rates of D2/D2+ lymphadenectomy [14.4%(139/967) vs. 47.2%(927/1962) vs. 75.4%(1197/1587), χ 2=907.210, P<0.001], in the ratio of proximal gastrectomy [19.8%(191/967) vs. 16.6%(325/1962) vs. 8.2%(130/1587), χ 2=100.020, P<0.001], and in the median intraoperative blood loss (300 ml vs. 100 ml vs. 100 ml, H=1126.500, P<0.001). Besides, the increasing trend and significant difference were also observed in the median number of examined lymph nodes among period 1, period 2 and period 3 groups (14 vs. 26 vs. 30, H=987.100, P<0.001). Survival analysis showed that the 5-year overall survival rate was 55.3% in period 1, 55.2% in period 2 and 62.8% in period 3, and significant difference existed between period 3 and period 1 ( P=0.004). The Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that treatment period (period 3, HR=0.820, 95%CI: 0.708 to 0.950, P=0.008), postoperative chemotherapy (HR=0.696, 95%CI: 0.631 to 0.768, P<0.001) and mid-low gastric cancer (HR=0.884, 95%CI: 0.804 to 0.973, P=0.011) were good prognostic factors. Whereas old age (≥65 years, HR=1.189, 95%CI: 1.084 to 1.303, P<0.001), palliative resection (R1/R2, HR=1.538,95%CI: 1.333 to 1.776, P<0.001), large tumor size (≥5 cm, HR=1.377, 95%CI: 1.239 to 1.529, P<0.001), macroscopic type III to IV (HR=1.165, 95%CI: 1.063 to 1.277, P<0.001) and TNM stage II to IV(II/I: HR=1.801,95% CI:1.500~2.162, P<0.001;III/I: HR=3.588, 95% CI: 3.028~4.251, P<0.001; IV/I: HR=6.114, 95% CI: 4.973~7.516, P<0.001) were independent prognostic risk factors. Conclusion:Through the implementation of standardized surgical treatment technology and multidisciplinary treatment model, the quality of surgery treatment and overall survival increase, and prognosis of gastric cancer patients has been improved.

Objective:To explore the effect of standardized surgical treatment and multidisciplinary treatment strategy on the treatment outcomes of gastric cancer patients.Methods:A single-center cohort study was carried out. Clinicopathological and long-term follow up data of primary gastric cancer patients were retrieved from the database of Surgical Gastric Cancer Patient Registry (SGCPR) in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Finally, 4516 gastric cancer patients were included and were divided into three groups according to time periods (period 1 group: exploration stage of standardized surgical treatment, 2000 to 2006, 967 cases; period 2 group: application stage of standardized surgical treatment, 2007 to 2012, 1962 cases; period 3 group: optimization stage of standardized surgical treatment and application stage of multidisciplinary treatment strategy, 2013 to 2016, 1587 cases). Differences in clinical data, pathologic features, and prognosis were compared among 3 period groups. Follow-up information was updated to January 1, 2020. The overall follow-up rate was 88.9% (4016/4516) and median follow-up duration was 51.58 months. Survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meire method and compared with log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by Cox proportional hazards model.Results:There were significant differences among period 1, period 2 and period 3 groups in the rates of D2/D2+ lymphadenectomy [14.4%(139/967) vs. 47.2%(927/1962) vs. 75.4%(1197/1587), χ 2=907.210, P<0.001], in the ratio of proximal gastrectomy [19.8%(191/967) vs. 16.6%(325/1962) vs. 8.2%(130/1587), χ 2=100.020, P<0.001], and in the median intraoperative blood loss (300 ml vs. 100 ml vs. 100 ml, H=1126.500, P<0.001). Besides, the increasing trend and significant difference were also observed in the median number of examined lymph nodes among period 1, period 2 and period 3 groups (14 vs. 26 vs. 30, H=987.100, P<0.001). Survival analysis showed that the 5-year overall survival rate was 55.3% in period 1, 55.2% in period 2 and 62.8% in period 3, and significant difference existed between period 3 and period 1 ( P=0.004). The Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that treatment period (period 3, HR=0.820, 95%CI: 0.708 to 0.950, P=0.008), postoperative chemotherapy (HR=0.696, 95%CI: 0.631 to 0.768, P<0.001) and mid-low gastric cancer (HR=0.884, 95%CI: 0.804 to 0.973, P=0.011) were good prognostic factors. Whereas old age (≥65 years, HR=1.189, 95%CI: 1.084 to 1.303, P<0.001), palliative resection (R1/R2, HR=1.538,95%CI: 1.333 to 1.776, P<0.001), large tumor size (≥5 cm, HR=1.377, 95%CI: 1.239 to 1.529, P<0.001), macroscopic type III to IV (HR=1.165, 95%CI: 1.063 to 1.277, P<0.001) and TNM stage II to IV(II/I: HR=1.801,95% CI:1.500~2.162, P<0.001;III/I: HR=3.588, 95% CI: 3.028~4.251, P<0.001; IV/I: HR=6.114, 95% CI: 4.973~7.516, P<0.001) were independent prognostic risk factors. Conclusion:Through the implementation of standardized surgical treatment technology and multidisciplinary treatment model, the quality of surgery treatment and overall survival increase, and prognosis of gastric cancer patients has been improved.

OBJECTIVETo establish the tissue response grading (TRG) system following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to investigate its application in the gastric cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODSData of 30 cT3-4N0-3M0 gastric cancer cases who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and operation from May 2017 to February 2018 at Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The edema degree of gastrointestinal tract and perigastric tissues, intraoperative effusion, and fibrosis of tumor and lymph nodes bearing tissues which could be divided into 4 categories constituted the core parameters of the TRG system following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Four categories of edema: grade 0, no obvious tissue edema; grade 1, slight tissue edema and swelling, no obvious effusion when dissecting the capsule of connective tissues; grade 2, moderate tissue edema and swelling, a few effusion when dissecting the capsule of connective tissues; grade 3, severe tissue edema and swelling with high tension on the capsule of connective tissues, tension blister could be observed in some patients, continuous effusion when dissecting the capsule of connective tissues. Four categories of intraoperative effusion: grade 0, no obvious effusion; grade 1, slight effusion and a few intraperitoneal exudation; grade 2, moderate effusion and continuous intraperitoneal exudation necessitating interrupted suction; grade 3, severe effusion and continuous intraperitoneal exudation necessitating constant suction. Four categories of fibrosis: grade 0, no fibrosis; grade 1, slight fibrosis with threadiness fibrous bands, clear dissecting space could be found between the fibrous tissues and adventitia/normal tissues; grade 2, moderate fibrosis with flaky fibrous tissues, the difficulty of tissue and lymph nodes dissection increased although dissecting space could be found between the fibrous tissues and adventitia/normal tissues; grade 3, severe fibrosis with hard and flaky fibrous membrane, the difficulty of tissue and lymph nodes dissection increased extremely and the fibrous tissues merges with adventitia/normal tissues without dissecting space. The relationships of TRG system with tumor response evaluation by computed tomography (CT), tumor regression score, surgical duration, number of retrieved lymph nodes, number of metastatic lymph nodes, number of enlarged lymph nodes seen in the preoperative CT scans as well as postoperative complications were analyzed using t test, χ² test and logistic regression model.

RESULTSNineteen male and 11 female patients with a mean age of(59.1±9.4) years were enrolled. There were 17 cases of grade 1, 12 cases of grade 2 and 1 case of grade 3 for tissue edema, while the corresponding number was 14, 15 and 1 for intraoperative effusion and 15, 14 and 1 for fibrosis respectively. There were no significant differences among the different degrees of tissue edema, intraoperative effusion and fibrosis in terms of the tumor response evaluation by CT and tumor regression score (all P>0.05). The results of logistics regression showed that tumor response evaluation by CT was related with the degree of tissue edema (P=0.012) and intraoperative effusion (P=0.007), rather than the degree of fibrosis (P=0.527). However, tumor regression score was not related with the degree of tissue edema(P=0.345), intraoperative effusion (P=0.159) and fibrosis (P=0.207). Surgical duration of one case with all grade 3 in tissue edema, intraoperative effusion and fibrosis was 408 minutes, which was longer than those with grade 1 and grade 2 patients [(295.9±40.1) minutes and (293.1±34.3) minutes, respectively]; the number of retrieved lymph nodes, metastatic lymph nodes, and enlarged lymph nodes seen in the preoperative CT scans of this case with all grade 3 were 25, 4 and 1, which were all less than those with grade 1 and grade 2 (42.3±11.9 and 38.5±18.2, 7.3±9.1 and 8.1±9.7, 1.8±1.6 and 2.3±1.3, respectively). There were no significant differences between grade 1 and grade 2 of tissue edema, intraoperative effusion and fibrosis in terms of surgical duration, retrieved lymph nodes, metastatic lymph nodes and enlarged lymph nodes seen in the preoperative CT scans(all P>0.05). Four patients suffered from pulmonary complications and 2 patients experienced slight lymphatic, and all leakage were cured by conservative therapies. There were no significant differences among the different grades of tissue edema, intraoperative effusion and fibrosis in terms of the operation-associated complications (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe tissue response grading system can assist the judgment of operation difficulty and reflect the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to some extent, which has the possibility of applications.

Aged ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and efficacy of clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 19 cases who underwent the laparoscopic clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer (clockwise group) from July 2016 to September 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy included the fixed operative order, detailed procedure and requirement of lymphadenectomy, which mainly reflected in assisting the exposure of operative field and dissection of lymph nodes through suspending the liver and banding the greater omentum, as well as proposing the requirements and attentions for the dissections of each station of lymph nodes to facilitate the quality control of lymphadenectomy. The operative time, intraoperative complications, intraoperative estimate blood loss, number of total harvested lymph nodes, morbidity and postoperative recovery, were compared with the data of another 19 cases who received traditional lymphadenectomy from January 2016 to June 2016 (control group).

RESULTSThe baseline data were comparable between two groups. All the patients were performed successfully by laparoscopy without conversion and intraoperative complications. The operative time, intraoperative estimated blood loss and number of total harvested lymph node were (278.4±29.9) min, (91.1±41.6) ml and 38.2±15.1 in clockwise group, and were (296.7±30.3) min, (102.2±32.2) ml and 37.0±12.3 in control group without significant differences (all P>0.05). However, the mean number of retrieved No.11p lymph nodes was 2.2±1.8 in clockwise group, which was significantly higher than that in control group (0.8±1.0) (P=0.013). Four patients in each group suffered from pulmonary infections, who were cured by conservative therapies. There was no anastomotic leakage, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, intraperitoneal infection or intestinal obstruction in each group.

CONCLUSIONThe clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy can contribute to the facilitation of the retraction and exposure, decrease of the surgical duration and intraoperative blood loss, and radicalization of lymph node dissection, especially for the lymph nodes dissection around the celiac trunk.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Convalescence ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; surgery ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rationality and validity of weighted TOPSIS method and weighted RSR method to evaluate drug supervision and supply networks construction in rural areas of Hunan . METHODS: Data of drug network construction in rural Hunan in 2010 were used to establish a comprehensive evaluation model, and weighted TOPSIS and RSR method were applied to this model and the results of which were compared to that of synthetical scored method to examine the validity. RESULTS: A comprehensive evaluation model was established, comprising of 3 primary indices, 8 secondary indices and 56 tertiary ones. The result of weighted RSR method was highly correlated to that of synthetical scored method, yet the result of TOPSIS was less correlated to the formers. All correlations were significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Both weighted RSR and TOPSIS are not perfect methods, but the application of the methods in drug network evaluation is scientific and effective.
China ; Computing Methodologies ; Decision Support Techniques ; Fees and Charges ; Models, Theoretical ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; standards ; supply & distribution ; Rural Health Services

OBJECTIVE: To establish a comprehensive evaluation system for the development of health services, and to assess the levels of health services in 2008 and 2009 in Hunan compared with seven other provinces in central China, so as to provide a basis for hygiene management decisions. METHODS: In order to establish a comprehensive evaluation system, a Delphi method, a boundary value method, and an RSR method were applied, respectively, to survey indices of health service development, to screen indices, and to determine index weights. A weighted TOPSIS method was used to evaluate the development status of health services of the eight provinces. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.884, indicating a proper surface validity and a content validity. The expert positive coefficient, authority coefficient and Kendall coefficient were 93.75%, 0.8117, and 0.31, respectively. A comprehensive evaluation system, which consisted of 3 primary indices, 10 secondary indices and 52 tertiary indices, was established. The result of the comprehensive evaluation showed that the health services development of Hunan Province ranked 7th and 6th among the 8 central provinces for 2008 and 2009, respectively. CONCLUSION The established, comprehensive evaluation system has a high reliability. Health services development of Hunan Province is relatively backward among the 8 central provinces.
China ; Health Services ; standards ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires