The development and consideration of a framework for a Chinese elderly health standards system / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To develop a framework for a national system of elderly health standards in response to population aging in China and to meet the need for health service standards for elderly care, thus providing a roadmap for the development of elderly health standards.Methods:Preliminary indicators for a framework of a Chinese elderly health standards system were established by literature review and expert consultations.Using the Delphi method, we invited 23 experts to form a consultation panel.After two rounds of expert consultations, the preliminary framework was updated and the weight of each indicator was calculated by using the analytic hierarchy process.Results:A framework of the Chinese elderly health standards system was established after two rounds of expert consultations.The expert authority coefficient was 0.847.The framework proposed four primary indicators, including basic health standards, medical service standards, public health standards and social support standards, for the elderly, with a weight of 0.204, 0.346, 0.260 and 0.189 for each indicator.There were 22 secondary indicators, including standardized terminologies, medical services, health education, geriatrics personnel training, etc., for elderly care.Conclusions:Our research has generated a preliminary framework of an elderly health standards system that incorporates China's specific issues, takes into consideration of the needs of various parties and covers many relevant aspects.It will provide the basis for decision-making in the elderly health standardization process in China and safeguard the implementation of the Healthy China strategy.