Effect of Collaborative Governance on Medical and Nursing Service Combination: An Evaluation Based on Delphi and Entropy Method.

ABSTRACT

[Background] Improvement of synergies in medical and nursing services can help governments to optimize the allocation of medical resources; however, an appropriate evaluation method is critical for a suitable decision process in this regard. [Method] To assess the medical and nursing service combination (MNSC) at a regional level, this study applied a five-dimension evaluation index composed of 28 basic response areas related to the MNSC development status in China, determining its respective weight through the Delphi and entropy methods. [Result] This empirical exercise analyzed the MNSC supply system by interviewing nine heads of medical and nursing institutions and eleven healthcare-related government personnel during August of 2020 in Xinxiang City, Henan province, P.R China. Results showed (1) public satisfaction with the fees charged by Medical and Nursing service Institutions (MNSI); (2) Medicare and supply services' policy publicity; (3) the external financing situation of MNSI; (4) the medical staff's professional quality; (5) the medical facilities and supply of MNSI; and (6) that the recognition level of the development plan of MNSI scored the highest effect on the synergy of MNSC supply among the assessed factors. [Conclusion] These results showed that an evaluation based on the Delphi and entropy methods can effectively integrate the opinions of experts and related institutions to evaluate synergies on the medical and nursing service supply.