Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Apr 23, 2025
Date Accepted: Oct 17, 2025
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Close-Knit Medical Alliances on the Integration of HIV Prevention and Treatment in County-Level Areas in China: A Delphi Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Integrated care for HIV/AIDS patients in rural and economically disadvantaged regions remains a critical challenge. This study aims to develop a three-dimensional evaluation index system to assess the effectiveness of integrated medical care and prevention for HIV/AIDS patients in county-level regions of China.
Objective:
The framework encompasses disease prevention, clinical treatment, and the integration of medical services with public health interventions.
Methods:
A structured Delphi method will be employed to establish consensus among experts on key evaluation indicators. The study will begin with focus group discussions (FGDs) guided by Valentijn’s Rainbow Model, followed by multiple rounds of Delphi surveys to refine the indicator system. The 75 experts will include clinical professionals with at least five years of experience in HIV/AIDS care, public health specialists from institutions such as the CDC, health policy researchers with relevant publications or government advisory experience, and representatives from NGOs involved in HIV/AIDS prevention. Experts will participate in iterative rounds, ranking and validating indicators using statistical methods such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Kendall’s W coefficient to assess consensus. Data collection will involve both quantitative scoring and qualitative feedback, ensuring a comprehensive and evidence-based evaluation framework.
Results:
The study will generate a comprehensive evaluation index system tailored for county-level integration of HIV/AIDS medical and preventive services.
Conclusions:
This system will offer a scientifically validated tool for assessing healthcare outcomes in resource-constrained settings and inform policy improvements. Clinical Trial: The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (No:21YJA630062). The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and policy recommendations to guide HIV/AIDS service integration efforts in China and other low-resource settings.
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