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.
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.
ObjectiveBy establishing a set of evaluation system for thoracoscopic clinical function and applicability, to evaluate and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different brands of thoracoscopes, and to provide some suggestions for the innovation and upgrade of thoracoscopes, especially for the domestic thoracoscopes.MethodsThe project coordination team initially formulated the evaluation index system for the clinical function and applicability of thoracoscope by querying literature and brainstorming. The Delphi expert consultation method was used to distribute questionnaires to the selected experts. Experts provided scores which were based on the importance of each indicator, and clarified the basis of their judgment and the familiarity with the evaluation indicators. After two rounds of screening by Delphi method, a thoracoscopic clinical function and applicability satisfactory questionnaire was formed. The appropriate sample for pre-investigation was selected, and the reliability and validity were tested. The index composition was adjusted based on the results of the test to form a final evaluation scale.ResultsThe project coordination team initially formulated 24 thoracoscope-related evaluation indicators. After two rounds of experts consultation, the item "brightness adjustment" was deleted without any additional entries. The positive coefficients of the experts in the first round and the second round were 100.0% and 80.0%, respectively. The two rounds of authoritative coefficients were 0.86 and 0.90, and the coordination coefficients were 0.272 (P<0.001) and 0.523 (P<0.001), respectively. A total of 140 questionnaires were issued in this pre-investigation. The recovery rate was 100.0% and the effective rate was 90.0%. The Cronbach's α value of the scale was 0.936, and the Spearman-Brown split-half reliability coefficient was 0.972. The factor analysis finally extracted 3 common factors. The total variance of the cumulative interpretation was 70.9%. The three common factors were named "operation related", "image related" and "device related".ConclusionThe evaluation index system developed in this study has good reliability and validity, and can be used as a tool to evaluate the clinical function and applicability of thoracoscopes.
ObjectivesTo provide methodology support for the tracking assessment of specific resolution execution through evidence-based construction of tracking assessment index system for resolution execution of WHO essential medicine accessibility resolution, so as to further promote and improve the establishment of national essential medicine policies, and offer a methodology reference to survey and assess the resolution executions in other public health fields.MethodsA multi-disciplinary team was set up to preliminarily construct the index system by means of earlier system assessment index through index screening based on Delphi method. The weight of each index was determined by analytic hierarchy process.ResultsAfter two rounds of expert consultation, the index system available for resolution execution measures and results of WHO essential medicine accessibility were established, including 9 indexes of resolution execution measures. Meanwhile, the execution results of index contained 4 first class indexes, 13 second class indexes and 36 third class indexes. Each of the indexes obtained its own weight according to degree of importance.ConclusionsIn this study, the assessment index for resolution execution of essential medicine accessibility is established, however, the empirical research is still required to further verify the scientificity as well as feasibility of this index system.
As an important auxiliary means of pharmacoeconomics evaluation, budget impact analysis can effectively measure the affordability of medical insurance fund, and plays a significant role in the process of medical insurance access negotiation, adjustment of medical insurance reimbursement directory and establishment of payment price. The quality of budget impact analysis data has a great impact on the analysis results and the scientific decision-making. When the existing data cannot meet the requirements of the paper, relevant software is needed to carry out Delphi method to ensure the data accuracy. Infopoll is a powerful, easy-to-use application that designs consultation questionnaires by providing multiple question choices and multiple forms of answer settings, as well as detailed statistical charts for results analysis. This paper introduces how to obtain the data of budget impact analysis based on Delphi method using Infopoll software, and analyzes the main results in detail.
Objective To construct an index system for the rational use of foods for special medical purposes (FSMP) by medical institutions. Methods Based on the literature review and the survey of 300 medical institutions, we developed a questionnaire for expert consultation and conducted two rounds of expert consultation using Delphi method and consensus meeting method to determine the final index system for the rational use of FSMP in medical institutions. Results After two rounds of expert consultation and expert consensus conference meetings, it was finally determined that medical institutions should reasonably use the FSMP comprehensive evaluation index system, including 3 first-level catalog indicators, 17 second-level catalog indicators, and 13 third-level catalog indicators. Conclusion This index system can help promote the rationalization and standardization of FSMP clinical application in medical institutions in China and improve the quality of clinical nutrition care.
Objective To scientifically construct a self-management behavior scale for postoperative patients with osteoporotic fractures, in order to assess the self-management behavior level of this patient population. Methods Between November 2022 and February 2023, a scale item pool was constructed using literature analysis and expert panel discussions. A preliminary version of the scale was formed based on feedback from 30 experts and 15 patients. From March 2023 to March 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to survey 230 patients post-osteoporotic fracture surgery from a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou. Cronbach’s α coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability were used to assess the reliability of the scale, while content validity and exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate its validity. Results The developed scale consisted of 5 dimensions and 27 items. The content validity index for each item ranged from 0.933 to 1.000. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 5 common factors, explaining 65.964% of the cumulative variance. The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability were 0.934, 0.780, and 0.958, respectively. The Cronbach’s α coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability for each dimension ranged from 0.849 to 0.897, 0.816 to 0.904, and 0.826 to 0.894, respectively. Conclusions The self-management behavior scale for post-osteoporotic fracture surgery patients demonstrates good reliability and validity. It is a highly authoritative and scientific tool that can be used effectively to assess self-management behaviors in these patients and provide a basis for developing personalized self-management interventions.
Objective To construct the expert consensus on comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system for the elderly in the hospital and community. MethodsMedline, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP databases were searched for geriatric rehabilitation assessment materials from June 2016 to June 2021. The primary items were summarized through literature review and research group discussion, and then Delphi method was used among 20 experts in geriatric rehabilitation medicine to develop consensus-based core items for the elderly comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system. Results A total of 158 references were included. Through integration, sorting and screening, the research team initially formulated 41 items and four major sections including cardiopulmonary exercise, sensory perception, cognition and psychology (speech contained), and swallowing, urination and defecation. The effective recovery rates of the two rounds of experts consultation were both 100%, the mean expert authority coefficient was 0.92±0.05, the variation coefficients were 0.174±0.043 and 0.172±0.063, respectively; the Kendall coefficients of concordance were 0.587 and 0.601, with P values<0.05 for both, respectively. Finally, The comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system for the elderly including 16 items would be formed. Conclusion The expert consensus on comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system for the elderly constructed by Delphi method includes motor, sensory perception, cognition, swallowing, speech, cardiopulmonary, defecation, mental and psychological elements, which are identified with high recognition and consistency from experts.
As a tool for building consensus among groups, Delphi technique has been widely used in healthcare research which is appropriate for clinical questions where quantitative methods are unlikely to yield results that can be successfully implemented in practice. Researchers in palliative care developed standards for conducting and reporting Delphi studies (CREDES). This paper introduces and interprets the specific content of CREDES standards, with a view to providing reference for the evaluation of Delphi research design quality and report transparency.
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.