Identification of a detailed function list for public health emergency management using three qualitative methods.
BACKGROUND
At present, many administrators lack a theoretical guide to build management systems to cope with public health emergencies. This study developed a detailed function list for public health emergency management to help building the management systems scientifically.


METHODS
The five steps in this study including literature review, semistructured interviews with experts, focus group, Delphi study and focus group were conducted to develop the detailed list of functions.


RESULTS
An initial list of 25 functions with 188 items was formed through literature review. The list was reduced to 10 functions with 57 items by semistructured interviews with experts and focus group. Next, all these 57 items reached the consensus through one-round Delphi study. Some revisions of the consensus were done by the same focus group.


CONCLUSIONS
The final 10 functions with 57 items could be used as a guide for most countries during their building of a public health emergency management system.
Hu
Guo-qing
GQ
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China. huguoqing110@xysm.net
Rao
Ke-qin
KQ
Sun
Zhen-qiu
ZQ
D003697:Delphi Technique; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D017144:Focus Groups; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic