Roohravan Benis Mahshid, Rampisheh Zahra, Motamed-Gorji Nogol, Solhi Mahnaz, Tayefi Batool
Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Community and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Colorectal Research Center, Rasool Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Public Health. 2025 May 20;25(1):1856. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22985-w.
A population health index is a combination of two or more health indicators, used to evaluate different dimensions of health in a population. While various population health indices have been developed globally, there remains a gap in systematically identifying and prioritizing such indices tailored to the Iranian context. This study aims to identify and prioritize population health indices relevant to the Iranian context using expert consensus through the Delphi method.
A multi-methodology with two steps was employed in this study. Firstly, a comprehensive list of existing composite health indicators was identified by reviewing the literature. In the second stage, the review results were used as input for a web-based Delphi survey involving 22 experts across two rounds. After two rounds, a list of indices that gained at least 70% of consensus and a mean score of 2.5 out of 5 was prepared.
In the initial phase of the study, a refined set of 21 indices emerged. Participation rates for the first and second rounds were 72% and 68%, respectively. A total of 21 indices were assessed, and after refining them based on expert feedback, the following five indices were determined to have the highest priority after two rounds: Disability-Adjusted Life Year (4.23 ± 0.32), UHC Service Coverage index (3.96 ± 0.25), Sustainable Development Goals index (3.78 ± 0.31), Human Development Index (3.58 ± 0.36), Quality-Adjusted Life Year (3.58 ± 0.37). The Inter-rater reliability test found significant absolute agreement among experts in the second round (ICC: 0.970, 95% CI: 0.931-0.989).
This study's contribution lies in offering a compilation of composite health indicators, which can guide forthcoming research on the health measurement of the Iranian population. Furthermore, the study underscores the value of involving expert professionals and soliciting diverse perspectives in selecting health indices.
人群健康指数是两个或更多健康指标的组合，用于评估人群健康的不同维度。虽然全球已开发出各种人群健康指数，但在系统识别和优先排序适合伊朗国情的此类指数方面仍存在差距。本研究旨在通过德尔菲法，利用专家共识来识别与伊朗国情相关的人群健康指数并确定其优先顺序。
本研究采用了分两步的多方法。首先，通过文献回顾确定了现有综合健康指标的详尽清单。在第二阶段，将回顾结果用作两轮基于网络的德尔菲调查的输入，该调查涉及22名专家。两轮之后，编制了一份获得至少70%共识且平均得分为5分制中2.5分的指数清单。
在研究的初始阶段，出现了一组经过提炼的21个指数。第一轮和第二轮的参与率分别为72%和68%。总共评估了21个指数，并根据专家反馈对其进行提炼，两轮之后确定以下五个指数具有最高优先级：伤残调整生命年（4.23±0.32）、全民健康覆盖服务覆盖指数（3.96±0.25）、可持续发展目标指数（3.78±0.31）、人类发展指数（3.58±0.36）、质量调整生命年（3.58±0.37）。评分者间信度检验发现第二轮专家之间存在显著的绝对一致性（组内相关系数：0.970，95%置信区间：0.931 - 0.989）。
本研究的贡献在于提供了一份综合健康指标汇编，可指导未来关于伊朗人群健康测量的研究。此外，该研究强调了在选择健康指数时让专家专业人员参与并征求不同意见的价值。
