OBJECTIVES: To construct a quantitative index system with the integrated medical and nursing care assessment for the elderly service needs, this system can assess the cost of medical and care services accurately and objectively, so as to provide scientific basis for the allocation of old-age service resources in China. METHODS: Based on the survival needs of the Existence, Relation and Growth theory, an index system is constructed through literature analysis, group discussion, and expert correspondence. Analytic hierarchy process was used to determine the weights of indicators at all levels. The 3-grades service items corresponding to each index were quantified through the measurement of working hours, and the medical and nursing care needs of 624 disabled/demented elderly people over 60 years old in Changsha were investigated to evaluate their reliability and validity. RESULTS: The authoritative coefficients of the 2 rounds of expert correspondence were 88.5% and 88.6%, respectively, and the opinion coordination coefficients were 0.159 and 0.167, respectively. The final quantitative evaluation index system included 4 first-level indicators, 17 second-level indicators, and 105 third-level indicators. The service time of doctor ranged from 6.01 to 22.64 min, the service time of nurses ranged from 0.77 to 24.79 min, and the service time of caregiver ranged from 0.12 to 51.88 min. The Cronbach's αcoefficient was 0.73, the split-half reliability was 0.74, the content validity was 0.93, and the calibration validity was 0.781. CONCLUSIONS The quantitative evaluation index system of medical and nursing service need for the elderly can be used to accurately evaluate the medical and nursing service need.
Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delphi Technique ; Nursing Care ; China

In this study, Delphi method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 12 experts to determine the indicators system and the corresponding weight for early warning features of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Tianjin.The positive indexes of experts in three rounds of consultations were both 100%. The experts' authority coefficient was 0.79. The Kendall's W coordination coefficients were 0.375, 0.356 and 0.385 respectively (all P<0.05). The indicators system for early warning features of 2019-nCoV Omicron variant had 5 first-level indicators, 10 second-level indicators and 52 third-level indicators. The weight of each indicator was also determined.
Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Delphi Technique ; COVID-19 ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Taking the recommendations development of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) standard Clinical Practice Guideline for Female Urinary Incontinence as an example, this study analyzed the consensus expert composition, specific consensus process, and results in the development of the guideline's recommendations. It systematically examined the advantages of using the modified Delphi method in the formation of recommendations for acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice guideline, with the aim of providing reference for the development of acupuncture and moxibustion guidelines in the same field.
Female ; Humans ; Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Delphi Technique ; Moxibustion

The present study aims to construct an elderly vitality index evaluation system and develop a comprehensive vitality evaluation scale for the elderly to reasonably evaluate the vitality level of the elderly in China, so as to provide a reference for promoting the realization of "active aging" and "healthy aging". Literature research and in-depth interview were used to collect the senile vitality sensitive indexes. The indexes were screened and corrected by Delphi expert consultation method, item analysis method based on classical test theory, factor analysis method, and reliability and validity analysis method. The analytic hierarchy process was used to calculate the weight of each level of indexes. An elderly vitality evaluation system including 4 first-level indexes and 24 second-level indexes was constructed. The consistency test results of all levels of indicators showed that the consistency index (CI) and consistent ratio (CR) were both less than 0.1, which met the requirements and showed satisfactory consistency. The weights of exercise vitality, nutritional vitality, psychological vitality and social vitality were 0.263, 0.141, 0.455 and 0.141, respectively. In conclusion, the comprehensive vitality scale constructed for the Chinese elderly is reliable and scientific, and can be used to evaluate the vitality of the elderly.
Humans ; Aged ; Analytic Hierarchy Process ; Reproducibility of Results ; Delphi Technique ; Aging ; China ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To establish a health education program for home emergency management of acute complications of diabetes in the elderly.Methods The program was drafted by literature review and panel discussion.The final draft was formed after two rounds of correspondence from 13 experts.Results The recovery rate of the two rounds of expert correspondence was 100%,and the expert authority coefficient was 0.98.The Kendall's harmony coefficients of the two rounds of correspondence were 0.263 and 0.212 respectively(both P<0.001).The established health education program included indicators of three categories:early stage of acute complications of diabetes at home(understanding the inducing factors),emergency warning(quick and early identification in case of emergency),and emergency treatment at home.Conclusion The contents of the health education program are systematic and reliable and meet the needs of health education for home emergency management of the elderly with diabetes.
Humans ; Aged ; Delphi Technique ; Health Education ; Diabetes Mellitus/therapy* ; Diabetes Complications

With the expert consensus during the clinical questions determination in the World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) standard Practice Guideline of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Urinary Incontinence in Women as an example, this paper focused on the specific process and results of three rounds of Delphi survey on clinical issues by experts of the guideline development group, and systematically analyzed the consistency of the modified Delphi method with the consensus of acupuncture and moxibustion experts, as well as the reflection and limitation of this consensus process, hoping to provide reference for the development of acupuncture guidelines in the same field.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Delphi Technique ; Female ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Urinary Incontinence/therapy*

Objective To construct a nursing quality index system for the assisted reproduction hospitals integrating outpatient department,wards,and operating rooms and provide a reference for the application of the system in the quality control of clinical reproductive care. Method On the basis of Donabedian's health care quality model of structure-process-outcome,we established a nursing quality index system for assisted reproduction hospitals via literature retrieval,semi-structured interviews,Delphi method,and analytic hierarchy process. Results The two rounds of expert's questionnaire survey demonstrated the response rates of 100% and 92%,the expert authority coefficients of 0.911 and 0.919,and the Kendall coefficients of concordance of 0.228 and 0.253,respectively (all P<0.001).The nursing quality index system for assisted reproduction hospitals was established,which consisted of 3 first-level indicators,13 second-level indicators,and 39 third-level indicators. Conclusion The nursing quality index system of assisted reproduction hospitals is comprehensive,systematic and reasonable,which can be used as quality management standard and provide a reference for clinical application.
Delphi Technique ; Hospitals ; Operating Rooms ; Reproduction ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relevant indicators affecting difficulty in the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars and score difficulty of different operation and risk indicators, so as to build an intuitive and accurate scale to help operators make more accurate analysis and prediction of difficulty before the operation. METHODS: Based on literature and the clinical review, the difficulty indicators of tooth extraction were summarized. Firstly, 10 doctors from Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology who had been engaged in alveolar surgery for a long time established an expert nominal group, and then rated whether the summarized indicators needed to be retained in the form of face-to-face questionnaires. A level 1 and 2 item frame for evaluating difficulty in the tooth extraction was formed after discussion; Then Delphi method was used to send a questionnaire to 30 experts by e-mail. After two rounds of scoring and modification, the scale of difficulty in the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars was formed. RESULTS: The recycling rate of two rounds of questionnaires was 100.0%, which showed that the experts were very enthusiastic about the study; The authority coefficients (Cr) of the two rounds of Delphi expert consultation were both 0.92, which showed that the results were representative and authoritative. After two rounds of grading and revision, the variable coefficient (CV) decreased and the Kendall's concordance coefficient (W) increased, which were statistically significant: In the first round, the CV was 0.24 and W was 0.56 (P < 0.001), and in the second, the CV was 0.19 and W was 0.72 (P < 0.001), which indicated that there was a good convergence among the expert opinions. Finally, a scale of difficulty in the tooth extraction containing 12 items at level A and 37 items at level B was formed, including operation difficulty indicators, risk difficulty indicators and common difficulty indicators. CONCLUSION Based on comprehensive literature retrieval, the study has put forward the concept that difficulty in the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars is composed of operation difficulty and risk difficulty. Using Delphi method, the long-term clinical experience and professional knowledge of experts are transformed into quantitative indicators as a scoring scale. The scale has certain representativeness and authority.
Delphi Technique ; Humans ; Mandible/surgery* ; Molar, Third/surgery* ; Tooth Extraction ; Tooth, Impacted/surgery*

Clinical trial outcome reporting differs between studies integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine, so that some clinical trials are not eligible for inclusion in a systematic review. The excluded studies are therefore less widely disseminated, and even valid studies are less likely to yield impact. This problem may be addressed by developing core outcome sets (COSs) for integrative medicine in specific healthcare areas. The first stage of development is to define the scope of the COS for integrative medicine, the second stage is to establish the need for such a COS, and the third stage is to develop a protocol and register the COS. The final stage involves three steps: (i) development of a comprehensive list of outcomes (including efficacy outcomes and safety outcomes and TCM syndromes) using systematic review, qualitative or cross-sectional research, and reviews of package inserts and medical records; (ii) merging and grouping of outcomes within domains; (iii) conducting two rounds of Delphi survey and consensus meetings with a range of stakeholders. The final COS will include a general COS and core TCM syndrome- set. Development of COSs for clinical trials of integrative medicine may help to standardize outcome reporting and reduce publication bias in the future.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delphi Technique ; Endpoint Determination ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research Design ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Graduates of environmental health engineering should be able to manage Social Determinants of Health (SDH) and acquire the essential competencies during their studies at university. This study was performed to determine the expected competencies of environmental health graduates in a way to be able to manage environmental and Social Determinants of Health according to their job description. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed using Delphi technique. First, the literature review was done and the Delphi technique was performed in three rounds. The purposeful sampling was used and 50 people were selected among the specialists in the field of environmental health engineering and SDH. Participants answered an open-ended question, for the first round. Then, a questionnaire with 8 areas was designed based on the results of the first round and distributed for the second round. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. The third round was done to reach the agreement on final items. RESULTS: The agreement on the items of the third round of Delphi was more than 70%. The final results showed eight competency areas under which 29 competencies were defined. Competency areas included expert knowledge, reasoning and planning, advocacy, system-based practice, professionalism, instructional expertise, social and personal skills and, research and self-development. The first three priorities of the required competency areas were expert knowledge (4.46 ± 0.55), professionalism (4.42 ± 0.64), and advocacy (4.32 ± 0.77). CONCLUSIONS It is necessary that environmental health engineers achieve necessary competencies regarding managing SDH, upon their graduation. It is suggested to integrate these competencies into the curriculum of environmental and health engineering in Iran universities.
Clinical Competence ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Curriculum ; Delphi Technique ; Environmental Health ; Humans ; Social Determinants of Health