Establishment of an evaluation indicator system for postpartum care institution with Delphi and analytic hierarchy process

Objective To establish an evaluation indicator system for postpartum care institution with Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and to provide evidences for quantitative evaluation of the institutions.Methods We constructed a basic framework of the indicator system by literature learning and discussion of professors.Delphi method was used to determine various indicators by consulting 22 experts on obstetrical nursing,obstetrical management,and institution management; then AHP was adopted to identify the weight values of the indicators at all levels.Results The effective rate for the two rounds of consultation were 91.7% and 90.9%,respectively and the authority coefficient ranged from 0.805 to 0.807,with an average of 0.806.Coordination coefficients were 0.172 and 0.200 for the two rounds of expert consultation,with statistical significance (P<0.05).The established system contains 129 indicators with five first-class indicators,22 second-class indicators,and 102 third-class indicators.The index weight of the five first-class indicators (administration,environment configuration and security management,sanitation and clean management,diet and nutrition management,maternal and child care) were 0.09,0.23,0.14,0.14,and 0.39,respectively.Conclusion An indicator system,with 129 entries and key indexes for maternal and child care,was established for the evaluation of postpartum care institutions and the evaluation indicator system is valid as assessed by expert consultation.