Objective The basic terms of the technical specifications for case-control studies in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are formed by expert consensus methods, in order to develop detailed texts of the technical specifications. Methods According to the process of international guidelines, a total of 44 experts participated in the Delphi survey. Results The three rounds of questionnaire response rates were 73.3%, 86.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. The experts' authority coefficients were 0.82, 0.85, and 0.86, respectively; and the expert opinion coordination coefficients were 0.356, 0.349, and 0.422, respectively. Expert enthusiasm, authority, opinion centralization, and degree of coordination were relatively high. There were many opinions raised in the expert consensuses on how to measure TCM syndrome, TCM constitution, the time point of measurement and the selection of new cases. Conclusion The case-control studies in TCM field should pay more attention to the characteristics of TCM. The draft of technical specification involves the study design and reporting, which can improve the methodological and reporting quality of case-control studies.
ObjectiveTo construct the terminology standard of hospital quality and safety. MethodsThe draft terminology standard was constructed through group discussions, and the final draft terminology standard was formed after one round of Delphi expert consultation and two rounds of expert consensus meetings. ResultsThe recovery rate of the questionnaire was 100%, and the authority coefficient of experts was 0.87. A total of 15 experts were invited to two rounds of expert consensus meetings. The terminology standard for hospital quality and safety (TCHAS 10-1-1-4—2022) was finally released, including 4 first-level categories, 20 second-level categories, and 370 terms in total. ConclusionThe terminology standard of hospital quality and safety developed in this study is scientific and reliable, which can be used as a tool to assist medical institutions in carrying out standardized management.
Objective To explore the certification management of specialty nurses in China based on the existent problems to provide evidence for practice and decision making for management of the specialty nurses. Methods The modified Delphi technique was applied in this study from July to December 2017. A structured consultation questionnaire based on expert interview and literature review was designed, and modified after preliminary experiment. Then the questionnaires were delivered to 32 nurse experts to complete 3 rounds of Delphi process, which reached consensus gradually. Results The response rates of three round consultations were 96.9% (31/32), 100.0% (31/31), and 96.8% (30/31), respectively. The suggestion rates were 25.8% (8/31), 16.1% (5/31), 0% (0/31), respectively. The familiar coefficient, adjustment coefficient and authority coefficient was 0.82, 0.87 and 0.85, respectively. The experts had the agreement finally for all of the 16 items in the consultation questionnaire, and they formed an expert opinion draft on specialty nurse certification and registration. Conclusion It’s crucial and essential to establish a certification and registration system in China and renew the credentials regularly to promote the management and construction of specialty nurse team.
Objective To construct a sensitive indicator system for the quality of ambulatory chemotherapy nursing, and provide reference basis for the evaluation and scientific management of ambulatory chemotherapy nursing quality. Method Based on Donabedian’s three-dimensional quality structure model of “structure process result”, through literature review, a preliminary quality indicator system for ambulatory chemotherapy nursing was formulated. The Delphi method was used for two rounds of expert inquiry to determine the sensitive treatment indicator system for ambulatory chemotherapy nursing. The weight of the indicators was calculated using the hierarchical analysis method. Result Fifteen expert inquiry questionnaires were distributed through two rounds of inquiry, and the response rates of the two rounds of expert inquiry questionnaires were all 100%, with expert positivity coefficients of 100% and authority coefficients of 0.90 and 0.94, respectively. The second round of expert inquiry questionnaires Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were between 0.573 and 0.769 (P<0.01). The final constructed quality sensitive indicator system for ambulatory chemotherapy nursing included 3 primary indicators, 8 secondary indicators, and 27 tertiary indicators. The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient for the second round of inquiry questionnaires was 0.853, while the Cronbach’s α coefficients for structural indicators, process indicators, and outcome indicators were 0.879, 0.921, and 0.857, respectively. Conclusions The sensitive indicator system for nursing quality in ambulatory chemotherapy wards constructed has high systematicity, sensitivity, and scientificity, and the weight distribution is reasonable. This indicator system can provide a reference basis for objective evaluation and standardized management of nursing quality in ambulatory chemotherapy.
ObjectiveWe constructed a real-world evidence evaluation system to provide reference for obtaining high-quality evidence in evidence-based medicine.MethodsThrough the investigation and analysis of the key factors influencing the real-world research evidence, combined with domestic and foreign literature and evaluation tools, we preliminarily constructed the indicators of the real-world evidence evaluation system, then consulted experts in related fields by the Delphi method, modified and determined the final evaluation indicators. ResultsThe indicators of the final real-world evidence evaluation system included 40 items. The recovery efficiencies of the two rounds of expert consultation were 88.2% and 100%; The expert coordination coefficients were 0.174 (P<0.001) and 0.189 (P<0.001). After the second round of consultation, the mean of Likert scale in the range of 3.73~4.93, and the coefficient of variation varied in the range of 0.05~0.21. ConclusionThe real-world evidence evaluation system constructed in this study has certain reliability and scientificity, which can provide a basis and help for the transformation of real-world research into high-quality evidence.
ObjectiveTo construct the occupational therapy core items oriented by life return for stroke patients, and provide a reliable tool to promote the comprehensive rehabilitation and successful return for stroke patients.MethodsFrom January to February 2020, the primary items were summarized through literature analysis and research group discussion, and then Delphi method was used to determine which items should be included by two rounds of experts consultation.ResultsA total of 22 experts were selected. After two rounds of experts consultation, 60 items in 6 domains were included. The effective recovery rates of the two rounds of experts consultation were both 100%, the mean expert authority coefficient was 0.87±0.54. In the two rounds of experts consultation, the importance scores of consulted items were 7.60±0.97 and 8.06±0.35, respectively; the variation coefficients were 0.14±0.05 and 0.11±0.03, respectively; the Kendall coefficients of concordance were 0.522 (P<0.001) and 0.578 (P<0.001), respectively.ConclusionThrough the Delphi method, the core items oriented by life return are identified with high recognition and consistency from experts, which can be used as a guideline tool for stroke patients in in-hospital occupational therapy, discharge guidance, and community/home rehabilitation.
ObjectiveTo select the key questions of the reporting quality of acupuncture therapy network meta-analysis. MethodsA question pool about reporting quality of acupuncture therapy network meta-analysis was conducted by preliminary literature research and qualitative systematic review. A correspondence questionnaire was designed and the selection of key questions was carried out through two rounds of expert consultation using the Delphi method. ResultsA total of 21 key questions were selected for the network meta-analysis report standard of acupuncture, including whether to report details of acupuncture interventions (e.g., needle type, acupoints used, number of needles inserted, depth of needle insertion, retention time, needling techniques, and treatment duration), diagnostic criteria for diseases or traditional Chinese medicine syndromes, and qualifications of acupuncture practitioners. Of these, the only three key questions answered by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and network meta-analysis (PRISMA-NMA) were summary, protocol and registration, and source of funding, while the remaining 19 were specific to acupuncture-related report standards. ConclusionThe conducted key question on reporting guideline of acupuncture network meta-analysis can improve the standardization and rigor of relevant research and better utilize its academic and clinical value.
In the context of the rapid development of contemporary medical industry and the unbalanced development of various subspecialties, expert consensus plays an extremely important role in guiding clinical practice and improving the quality of medical care. However, there are some deficiencies and limitations in the formation process and final report of the expert consensus. Therefore, this paper summarizes and reviews the definition, applications, and functions of expert consensus and the new progress of expert consensus formation methods by fully reviewing the literature, and puts forward the prospect. The purpose is to provide a reference for the production and application of expert consensus related to medical care, improve the outcomes of medical care, and upgrade the quality and level of medical services.
Objective To construct an evaluation index system of the competitiveness of private hospitals, and to provide references for guiding, supervising, and managing the high-quality development of private hospitals. Methods An index pool was constructed by the literature analysis method. Index screening was completed using the modified Delphi method. The analytic hierarchy process, entropy weight method, and combination weight method were used to determine the index weight. Results The competitiveness evaluation index system of private hospitals was constructed, which included 5 primary indexes and 36 secondary indexes. The combination weight methods were resource allocation (0.366 8), service capacity (0.470 8), service efficiency (0.033 7), quality and safety (0.121 3), and financial management (0.007 3). Conclusion The constructed evaluation index system of competitiveness of private hospitals is scientific, targeted, and operable.
ObjectiveTo construct a health in all policies (HiAP) evaluation index system for earthquake-stricken areas based on national health policies.MethodsFrom April to December 2020, this study combined the methods of comprehensive review of relevant literature, on the foundation of the evaluation indicators pool was preliminarily constructed. The Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process were adopted to construct the evaluation indicators system in earthquake-stricken areas and analyzed the weights of indicators.ResultsA total of 5 first-level indicators (investment, action, short-term effect, medium-term effect, long-term effect), 15 second-level indicators, and 44 third-level indicators with satisfactory logical consistency of HiAP evaluation indicators system in earthquake-stricken areas had been constructed.ConclusionsThe HiAP evaluation indicators system constructed in this study can be used to comprehensively evaluate the implementation of HiAP earthquake-stricken areas.