title: An evaluation system for financial compensation in traditional Chinese medicine services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the major factors influencing financial compensation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and prioritize what TCM services should be compensated for.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two structured questionnaires-a TCM service baseline questionnaire and a service cost questionnaire-were used to collect information from TCM public hospitals on TCM services provided in certain situations and service cost accounting. The cross-sectional study examined 110 TCM services provided in four county TCM public hospitals in Shandong province. From the questionnaire data, a screening index system was established via expert consultation and brainstorming. Comprehensive evaluation of TCM services was performed using the analytic hierarchy process method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Weighted coefficients were used to measure the importance of each criterion, after which comprehensive evaluation scores for each service were ranked to indicate what services should receive priority for financial compensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Economy value, social value, and efficacy value were the three main criteria for screening for what TCM services should be compensated for. The economy value local weight had the highest value (0.588), of which the profit sub-criterion (0.278) was the most important for TCM financial compensation. Moxibustion was tied for the highest comprehensive evaluation scores, at 0.65 while Acupuncture and Massage Therapy were tied for the second and third highest, with 0.63 and 0.58, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Government and policymakers should consider offer financial compensation to Moxibustion, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, and TCM Orthopedics as priority services. In the meanwhile, it is essential to correct the unreasonable pricing, explore compensation methods, objects and payment, and revise and improve the accounting system for the costs of TCM services.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Center for Health Management and Policy, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
authors.forename: Ai-Tian
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: lujun@shmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008405:Massage / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods
keywords: Analytic hierarchy process; Comprehensive evaluation; Financial compensation; Traditional Chinese medicine