Construction of Emergency Preparedness Evaluation Index System of public for Major Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Delphi Study

Abstract Objective To construct a scientific and comprehensive emergency preparedness evaluation index system of public for major emerging infectious diseases (MEIDs). Methods Based on the global national-level emergency preparedness index framework and a literature review, a preliminary index system was constructed. From June 2022 to September 2022, a panel of 20 experts from the fields of public health, infectious diseases, disease control, and psychology participated in the study. They rated the importance of pre-defined indicators using a five-point Likert scale. The index inclusion criteria were: mean scores of importance > 3.5, coefficient of variation < 2.5, and full mark rate > 20%. According to the feedback of each round of experts, the indicators of the index system were revised. Results After two rounds of expert consultation, the evaluation index system reached a consensus. The expert authority coefficient of consultation was 0.88 and 0.90. The Kendall’s coefficient of concordance of expert consultations was 0.294 and 0.322, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Finally, the emergency preparedness evaluation index system of public for major emerging infectious diseases was ultimately formed, including five first-level indicators, 20 second-level indicators and 53 third-level indicators. Conclusion The evaluation index system established by experts was reasonably scientific and could be used as a tool to evaluate the emergency preparedness of public for major emerging infectious diseases. At the same time, it could provide a reference for future education and training.