delphi techniques

This study aimed to identify and prioritize the main indicators that influence the performance of the permit‑to‑work (PTW) using hybrid fuzzy Delphi‑improve analytic hierarchy process(IAHP) methods.

By the fuzzy Delphi method, indicators that affect PTW are classified into seven main groups and 41 subindicators based on experts’ opinions; in the final stage, indicators and subindicators were weighted and prioritized using the IAHP methods.

The results of the IAHP method showed that accountability (0.178), preventive measures and risk avoidance (0.165), and training and qualification (0.141) are the most important ingredients also; the results revealed that identification of work‑related hazards(0.221), preformation of gas test (0.173), signature of responsible person for safety (0.232), the record of the work steps (0.213), period of permit validity (0.153), and period of training courses (0.351) had most important among the subindicators.

The results of this study can be used as a practical guide to plan the implementation of corrective measures for improving the performance of the PTW system and conduct an audit to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the PTW system in process industries.

Hospital Supply Chain Management (SCM) agility requires finding the main and effective dimensions, prioritizing, communicating between them and analyzing these dimensions in relation to each other.

The purpose of this study was to identify different dimensions of the hospital SCM agility, proposing a model of the hospital SCM agility and determining the relationships between dimensions of agility, and prioritizing, analyzing, and interpreting dimensions of the hospital SCM agility.

This cross-sectional study was performed on the physicians, nurses and staff working at public hospitals affiliated to Guilan University of Medical Sciences. Delphi technique was used to determine the dimensions of agility, interpretive-structural modeling approach was used for analysis. Network analysis was used to prioritize the dimensions of agility.

In the literature review 16 dimensions of agility were identified. The final model of agile supply chain management has 8 levels; cost reduction placed at the highest level and organizational leadership commitment was at the lowest level. Cost reduction dimensions were the highest priority and organizational culture was the lowest priority in the final network analysis.

Agile supply chain management has very important and complex elements. Neglecting to monitor their changes can cause irreparable and profound damage to the medical sector. Interpretive-structural approach and network analysis create a constructive and effective method to model, analyze, and prioritize the dimensions of agile supply chain management.

The ultimate goal in educating medical students is to train skilled workforce who by obtaining the required knowledge of the discipline, personal and professional skills, and attitudes to enter the national health‑care system. This study was conducted with the goal of designing a comprehensive clinical competency test of operating room technology student using the Delphi technique, and then, the clinical skills of the operating room technology students of the paramedical school were assessed using the CIPP evaluation model.

The present study was conducted in the University of Medical Sciences to evaluate clinical skills with Delphi technique and CIPP evaluation model. This was a mixed methods study. Purposive sampling method was employed in the qualitative stage, and a census was conducted in the quantitative part. A comprehensive clinical competency test was designed in this research using the Delphi technique and was conducted with 18 students. Then, clinical skills evaluation was performed by descriptive‑analytical statistical tests and evaluator’s observation using the CIPP model.

The comprehensive clinical competencies test of the surgical technology students was designed in four sections: content, evaluation method, test conditions, and the criteria for passing the comprehensive test. The results in the implementation stage showed that the operating room technology students had a range of excellent to weak performances in exhibiting basic skills at different levels.

The results of the present study showed that the comprehensive test, designed based on the Delphi technique of experts, and using the CIPP model can be a good criterion for the evaluation of the operating room technology students before entering the clerkship.

Almost all countries are affected by a variety of drug-supply problems and spend a considerable amount of time and resources to address shortages. The current study aims to reach a consensus on the scarce drug allocation measures to improve the allocation process of scarce drugs in Iran by a population needs-based approach. To achieve the objective, two phases were conducted. Firstly, a set of population-based indicators of needs were identified by reviewing the literature and were scrutinized by fifty academics/executives who were specialists in pharmaceutical resource allocation. In the second phase, the Delphi technique was performed to finalize the indicators. The yield of literature review step was about 20 indicators. Based on the results of the first questionnaire, 13 indicators were added to the Delphi phase. Then, in Delphi phase, the consensus was built after three Rounds. In addition to the burden of endemic, special, rare, and incurable diseases, traumatic diseases and total population of each province were the main measures. Furthermore, total mortality rates and the number of pharmacies in each province were on the border; hence, the monitoring team made the decision about inclusion or exclusion of such indicators. Other measures were in the range of 'important' ones. To reach a higher effective and efficient process of resource allocation, the paper suggests the use of a population needs-based approach in Iran's pharmaceutical sector. The scarce drug allocation indicators extracted in this study can make a considerable contribution to preventing, controlling, and mitigating drug shortages.