Factors affecting medical device management in COVID-19 pandemic / 中华医院管理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the factors affecting the management of medical devices in the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide guidance for the management of medical devices in public health emergencies.Methods:A total of 184 hospitals caring COVID-19 patients in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Anhui and Shandong were selected, and clinical engineers were randomly sampled. A self-compiled questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey on factors affecting medical device management during the COVID-19 pandemic from August to December 2021.The index system of influencing factors of medical device management during the COVID-19 pandemic was determined through an exploratory factor analysis, and then the structural equation model was used to verify the rationality and scientificity of the index system, while the relative weight method was used to calculate the weight of the index system.Results:277 valid questionnaires were recovered. Through the exploratory factor analysis, an index system of influencing factors of medical device management was established, which consisted of such level-indexes as the human factor, device factor, material factor, method factor, and environment factor, as well as 17 level-2 indexes. The fitness-indexes of the second-order structural equation model were finally fitted as follows the chi-square to freedom ratio was 2.606, the approximate root mean square error was 0.076, and the value of value-added adaptation index, non-standard adaptation index and comparative adaptation index were 0.921, 0.903 and 0.920, respectively. The weights of the method factor, human factor, device factor, material factor and environment factor of the level-1 indexes were 0.216, 0.191, 0.175, 0.274 and 0.144, respectively. Such factors as manpower, regulations and institutional processes, and information technology ranked top three among the 17 level-2 indexes, which were 0.090, 0.082 and 0.080 respectively.Conclusions:The influencing factor model of medical device management during the COVID-19 pandemic in this study is ideal; human factors and method factors are the influencing factors deserving high priority in medical device management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring sufficient human resources, improving laws, regulations and processes, as well as enhancing information management level are breakthroughs expected in medical device management.