An Indicator System for Evaluating Sci-Tech Innovation-Driven Improvement of China’s Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Capacity
Abstract
Purpose Medical scientific and technological (S&T) innovation is the core driver of disease diagnosis and treatment capacity improvement, yet standardized multi-dimensional evaluation frameworks linking research output to clinical outcomes remain lacking in China, hindering targeted health policy formulation. The core objective of this study is to establish a “scientific and technological innovation–clinical diagnosis and treatment capacity” transformation efficiency evaluation system adapted to China’s national context, through a comprehensive multi-dimensional and multi-method research approach. Patients and Methods This study integrated systematic literature review, semi-structured expert interviews, and two rounds of Delphi consultation with 40 senior experts to construct a three-tier evaluation indicator system covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. The Analytic Hierarchy Process and proportional distribution methods were adopted to assign weights for primary, secondary, and tertiary indicators, with the coefficient of variation and Kendall’s W used to test expert consensus. Results The finalized framework contained 4 primary, 14 secondary, and 142 tertiary indicators, including 42 indicators reflecting clinical diagnosis-treatment outcomes and 100 indicators measuring full-chain S&T innovation outputs. Expert authority coefficients reached 0.90 in both rounds, and all indicators met pre-set consensus thresholds after two consultations. The system built a complete causal logic chain from basic research achievements to clinical efficacy improvement. Conclusion This localized, whole-cycle indicator system systematically quantifies the driving effect of medical S&T innovation on clinical capacity. It provides a standardized assessment tool for health policymakers, research institutes, and medical facilities to track translational benefits of technological breakthroughs and implement innovation-oriented Healthy China strategies.