Objective To systematically reveal the structural characteristics and tool-stage adaptability issues of health education policies for Chinese residents from a full life-cycle perspective, thus providing theoretical support for optimizing the health governance system. Methods Based on policy tools theory, this study employed policy content analysis to systematically review national-level health education policy documents issued between 2016 and 2024. It quantitatively analyzed the types of policy tools used, their distribution, and their coverage across life-cycle stages. Results Health education policies in China exhibited a structurally imbalanced pattern, characterized by an overreliance on environmental tools, and an absence phenomenon of supply-side and demand-side tools. Although policy interventions and tool combinations across different life-cycle stages show a degree of dynamic alignment with stage- specific health risks, problems like tool-stage mismatch, insufficient coordination, and a lack of evaluation mechanisms persisted. Conclusion It is recommended to balance the structure and application ratio of policy tools, improve the health education policy system across all life-cycle stages, enhance the coordination and implementation mechanisms of stage-specific policy tools, and establish a life- cycle-oriented evaluation and feedback mechanism, thus promoting the overall advancement of the Healthy China strategy.
Objective To assess the impact of the diagnosis‑intervention packet (DIP) payment model on operational management in public hospitals and to identify corresponding countermeasures, thereby informing broader implementation and policy making. Methods At a public hospital in Putuo District, Shanghai, we established a three‑tier management structure, strengthened institutional policies, built a big‑data center, and specified disease groupings and weights to operationalize DIP‑based insurance payment management. We compiled operational data from 2020 to 2024 and conducted a longitudinal pre‑/post‑implementation comparison within the hospital, complemented by a cross‑sectional benchmark against four peer public hospitals in central Shanghai that had implemented DIP measures in 2024. Results Following DIP implementation, the hospital's case mix index (CMI) increased steadily over four years, and the proportion of Grade III or higher surgeries rose overall. In 2024, both the index unit price deviation (2.01%) and the initial payment rate (98.17%) outperformed those of the four peer hospitals, indicating notable cost‑containment effectiveness. Conclusion Public hospitals should strengthen disease‑category management, refine supporting policies and oversight mechanisms, and coordinate information platform development to optimize the DIP payment model and advance cost containment in an orderly manner.
Objective To quantitatively assess China's medical–elderly care integration policies and offer recommendations to inform policy refinement and decision‑making. Methods We integrated policy text mining with multi‑criteria decision‑making to evaluate 12 national medical–elderly care integration policies issued from 2015 to 2024. Results The average Policy Modeling Consistency (PMC) index score across policies was 7.27 (good category), while only two policies achieved an excellent rating. Conclusion Although the policy framework for medical–elderly care integration is broadly sound, gaps remain in timeliness, innovativeness, incentive design, and the balance of policy instrument portfolios. We recommend: precisely defining policy goals and constructing a tiered objective system; optimizing the mix of policy tools to ensure balanced application across regulatory, economic, and informational instruments; and strengthening incentive mechanisms and establishing diversified support schemes to enhance scientific rigor and implementation effectiveness.
Objective To analyze the content of 29 provincial-level family doctor contract service policies in China, and to summarize their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages, thus providing suggestions for optimizing provincial-level family doctor policies to better play the role of family doctors as gatekeepers of residents' health. Methods Starting from the perspectives of policy tool theory and policy function, a two-dimensional analysis framework was established to quantitatively study and analyze 29 provincial-level family doctor policy texts from January 2016 to March 2025. The data analysis software Nvivo12.0plus was used to design three-level nodes and complete coding. Results Command and regulatory tools accounted for the majority (45.46%), but system change (7.27%) and incentives (11.21%) were scant, suggesting a room to improve policy operability needs. The policies of most provinces were repetitions or decompositions of central policies, lacking local characteristics or innovation. Information technologies accelerated the implementation of empowerment systems (33.00%), and the role of health management was prominent (14.48%), although the incentive mechanism was imperfect. The direct matching between policy tools and policy functions was relatively partial and one-sided. Conclusion It is recommended to reduce command-based policy tools, establish and improve laws and regulations, and enhance the operability of policies. In addition, it is important to strengthen policy innovation, make up for shortcomings based on local realities, and leverage advantages. Strengthening systematic construction, enhancing talent support, and improving incentive mechanisms are crucial. An optimization of the combination of policy functions and policy tools is warranted.
To systematically review the promotion philosophy, practical approaches, and organizational mechanisms with the example of Shenzhen Bao'an District demonstration project of "TCM Culture Entering Campuses, Workplaces, and Communities"(hereafter referred to as the "Three-Entry" model) in response to the "Healthy China 2030" strategy, thus exploring effective multi- scenario and all-population pathways for TCM cultural dissemination. With an integration of literature review, case studies, and field interviews, implementation strategies, resource allocation, and dissemination outcomes across different settings were comprehensively analyzed. The results showed that the Three-Entry model has preliminarily established a cross-population, cross-scenario TCM cultural communication network, yielding positive effects in enhancing adolescents' TCM knowledge, increasing workplace populations' health awareness, and promoting health behavior transformation among community residents. The project has shown significant growth in activity frequency and participant coverage. Although a standardized quantitative evaluation system is not yet in place, interviews and educator feedback reveal a promising trend in health knowledge dissemination. The study also found that both the tripartite collaboration mechanism and digital dissemination strategies remain in exploratory stages, highlighting the need for a standardized indicator framework and a well-structured new media communication matrix.
Objective To systematically characterize the routine operating cost structure, workload, and economic performance of a medical cyclotron and to inform operational optimization and investment decisions for new cyclotron centers. Methods We applied activity‑based costing (ABC) to structurally decompose cyclotron operating costs and identify optimization levers. Using a cost-volume-profit (CVP) framework, we estimated break‑even points and per‑batch breakeven prices under varying workloads and evaluated the economics of producing 18F‑FDG across different operational stages. Results The average annual total production costs were 9.581 5±0.910 1 million CNY in years 1–3, 11.265 0±0.910 1 million CNY in years 4~8, and 6.004 0±0.910 1 million CNY from year 9 onward; fixed costs accounted for 68.34%, 72.33%, and 52.43%, respectively. Increases in variable costs with additional production batches were driven predominantly by medical consumables, comprising 90.72% of incremental costs. Under a single‑batch production scenario, the break‑even points were 8,672, 10,355, and 5,094 examinations per year for the three stages, respectively. As PET/CT daily throughput rose from 20 to 70 examinations, the per‑vial breakeven price of 18F‑FDG declined by 71.43%, and return on investment (ROI) increased from −9.18%, −13.39%, and −0.23% to 22.07%, 17.86%, and 31.02% across the three stages. Conclusion Medical cyclotrons are characterized by high operating costs and often face a mismatch between single‑center demand and installed capacity. Regional sharing of radiopharmaceuticals or coordinated supply across multiple PET/CT scanners can improve utilization. Policy‑level dynamic pricing mechanisms that cover full life‑cycle costs are recommended to ease cost pressures and support sustainable operations.
Objective To analyze the research development strategies for tertiary public hospitals based on the PEST ( political, economic, social, technological)-SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) model. Methods Taking a city-level tertiary comprehensive hospital as the research object, a PEST-SWOT matrix analysis model was established through literature review, expert consultation, integrated with the actual situation of the hospital, and based on the performance evaluation results of tertiary public hospitals from 2021 to 2023 and the overall monitoring situation nationwide. Internal and external strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were then analyzed. Results The scientific and technological innovation development of this tertiary public hospital had strengths and opportunities in the policy support from hospital leaders, innovative scientific research management systems, hospital investment in scientific research funds, and disciplinary characteristics. However, significant challenges existed in high-level talent teams, information technology construction level, and industry competition. Conclusion It is necessary to leverage own advantages and potential, focus on addressing own shortcomings and weak links, and comprehensively promote the development of scientific and technological innovation from the aspects of medical-research collaboration, discipline layout, high-level talent cultivation, and information technology development.
Objective This study focuses on hospital administrators and explores their professional values. Methods Factor analysis was used to study the various dimensions of professional values of hospital managers and the differences between the groups. Results The professional values of hospital managers can be divided into four dimensions: professional identity, professional improvement, professional emotions, and professional ethics, which can explain 78.21% of the information on professional values. Different groups of people have varying scores in various dimensions. The occupational emotional dimension scores of management personnel in tertiary hospitals are relatively low. Management personnel with a master's degree or above have lower scores in terms of occupational identity and emotional dimensions. The group with lower management experience has lower scores in terms of career identity and career advancement dimensions. The occupational identity and emotional scores of junior and intermediate professional titles are relatively low. The dimensions of career identity, career advancement, and career emotions are relatively low for individuals without positions. The personnel who undertake both clinical and management tasks have lower scores in terms of occupational emotional dimensions. Conclusion Targeted improvement of professional values is necessary for different groups based on their characteristics. This can be achieved through educational guidance, career planning, promotion of professional titles and positions, and the development of incentive systems based on job values. By strengthening job relearning, career advancement can be promoted. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to occupational burnout, provide strong organizational support, and enhance the professional emotions of management personnel. In addition, we need to build a strong ideological defense line and strengthen the construction of professional ethics.
Objective To examine the current state and challenges of career planning for early‑career healthcare professionals in hospitals, and to develop a scientific, standardized talent‑development framework that meets the demand for young professionals and supports hospitals' high‑quality development. Methods We employed a mixed‑methods approach combining a questionnaire survey with in‑depth interviews. The study sample comprised 430 early‑career healthcare professionals aged under 28 years from a Grade A tertiary hospital in China. Quantitative data were collected using a researcher‑developed instrument (Survey of Career Development among Early‑Career Healthcare Professionals) and were complemented by semi‑structured interviews with 20 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational analyses. Results The survey showed that only 20.21% had clear medium‑/ long‑term plans; 53.46 % reported only short‑term planning. Most respondents (88.30 %) favored a vertical advancement path. Top needs were clinical upskilling (75.80 %) and research training (48.14 %). Interviews identified unclear self‑assessment and insufficient professional guidance as major challenges. Correspondingly, recommended measures include Party‑building‑led initiatives, stratified and specialty‑specific guidance, and a mentorship program. Conclusion Career planning among early‑career healthcare professionals is characterized by a short‑term orientation and heterogeneous needs, indicating the necessity of a systematic development mechanism to enhance the rigor and evidence base of planning. The strategies proposed in this study offer actionable guidance for hospitals seeking to optimize youth talent development; however, their generalizability warrants confirmation through broader sampling and longitudinal follow‑up to assess sustained effects.
Objective To assess national pediatric workforce capacity and inform workforce planning and strengthening of pediatric service delivery. Methods Descriptive analysis of pediatric human resource trends, pediatrician workforce composition (education and professional rank), and compensation was performed. Results Although the pediatrician workforce has expanded in recent years, educational attainment, professional rank mix, and compensation lag behind other clinical specialties. Persistent shortages, driven by multiple factors, have produced a structural supply–demand imbalance, and the field faces pressures for transformation and upgrading. Conclusion Addressing these challenges requires reinforcing the pediatric service delivery system and coordinated action by government, hospitals, and pediatric departments to improve operational capacity. Pediatric resource supply should be increased by broadening recruitment and training pipelines and by aligning and enforcing supportive policies.
Unplanned return to the operating room (uROR)-a key 'return-to-care' metric-has unique implications for clinical performance and organizational quality governance. Embedding the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework into uROR management enables iterative learning through staged synthesis, analysis, and structured reflection, thereby driving continuous refinement of management measures. Grounded in practical experience, this paper advances two core tenets: align goal-based management with a supportive safety culture to create coherent direction and engagement; and integrate continuous data surveillance with systematic case debriefs/retrospectives to form a mutually reinforcing feedback loop that strengthens surgical quality control. Early management practice suggests this approach offers a pragmatic foundation for deeper, system-level thinking in healthcare quality management.
Objective To analyze the impact of Caprini Risk Score (CRS)-based intervention on the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) development in oncology inpatients and to provide empirical evidence and reference for standardized VTE prevention in hospitals. Methods Monthly data on VTE prevention and treatment among oncology inpatients at a tertiary general hospital in Sichuan Province, covering the period from April 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, were extracted. Interrupted time series (ITS) models were fitted in R (version 4.3.3) for analysis, and model parameters were optimized using the Cochrane-Orcutt iterative method. Results All four models were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After iterative optimization, the adjusted R2 values improved from 0.998, 0.655, 0.945, and 0.489 to 0.999, 0.900, 0.978, and 0.564, respectively. After intervention, the proportion of patients classified as intermediate to high risk for VTE, the rate of VTE bleeding risk assessment, and the rate of pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis implementation increased by 73.60%, 2.46%, and 30.19%, respectively (all P<0.05); the admission rate of VTE patients decreased by 0.81% per month (P<0.05). Conclusion CRS effectively identifies oncology patients at high risk for VTE and is associated with a sustained reduction in VTE incidence. This conclusion was derived from an ITS analysis with parameters optimized via iterative procedures. Sustaining the benefits of VTE prevention and treatment will require continuous strengthening of multidisciplinary VTE case discussions and investment in health information infrastructure.
Applying multidimensional quality tools to hospital security operations: a practice-based case study
Drawing on a practice-based case from a tertiary Grade-A hospital, this study details how integrating established quality-management methods improved hospital security operations. By combining the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle, root cause analysis (RCA), Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams, and structured questionnaires, the hospital strengthened its security management system, significantly reduced workplace violence, and increased job satisfaction among healthcare staff. The paper also outlines future directions for building a more proactive, systems-oriented security and prevention framework, offering actionable insights for elevating security management across the healthcare sector.
Objective To investigate the effects of integrating antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) with the PDCA (plan-do-check-act) cycle in optimizing the structure and methods of AMS in our hospital, so as to improve antibacterial drug use efficiency and enhance rational drug utilization. Methods Using antimicrobial-related data in 2023 as the baseline, we employed brainstorming and fishbone analysis to identify the reasons why antimicrobial use intensity in each clinical department failed to meet the target. AMS was integrated with each phase of PDCA management for intervention, and antibacterial drug data from each month of 2024 after the intervention were compared and analyzed. Results After implementing AMS and PDCA cycle management, the following indicators decreased: per capita antibacterial drug consumption in inpatients, the proportion of antibacterial drug fees to total drug expenses, the rate of antibacterial prescriptions in outpatient and emergency departments, and the use rates of non-restricted, restricted, and special- grade antibacterial drugs in inpatients, and the antibacterial drug use intensity in inpatients. Meanwhile, the microbiological sample submission rates for restricted and special-grade antibacterial drugs and the rational use rate of perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis significantly increased. Conclusion The integration of AMS with the PDCA cycle significantly improves the rational use of antibacterial drugs in our hospital, and the antimicrobial use intensity meets the current requirements in China.
Objective To enable deep integration and efficient utilization of cross-domain data, this study explores how to unlock the value of data elements to advance intelligent clinical applications in smart hospitals, thereby promoting high-quality hospital development by fostering "new-quality productive forces". Methods Leveraging hospital information infrastructure-including a centralized data platform and collaborative systems-we pursued a core construction pathway across four dimensions: unification of multi-campus data; integration of cross-institutional data within and beyond the hospital; linkage of medical data with home-based health data; and fusion of large-scale datasets with curated, high-quality knowledge bases. These efforts supported the development of clinical applications grounded in cross-domain data integration. Results The integrated approach yielded an efficient, intelligent clinical application system that enables unified patient data retrieval, intelligent diagnostic decision support, dynamic monitoring of chronic diseases, collaborative clinical research, and fine-grained workload management. Conclusion Building clinical applications on cross- domain data integrationnot only addresses the needs of clinical diagnosis and treatment, research services, and operational management, but also lays a solid foundation for smart hospital development.
Depression has become a major global public health challenge, with rising prevalence and substantial societal burden. Digital therapeutics (DTx)—evidence-based software interventions—are emerging as a valuable modality in depression treatment. This review synthesizes the conceptual foundations, developmental trajectory, and domestic and international research progress of DTx for depression and examines clinical outcomes and implementation pathways across key delivery formats, including web-based platforms, mobile applications, and lightweight embedded applications (mini programs). By consolidating current evidence, the paper provides a basis for standardized clinical adoption and offers practical guidance for the future development of DTx in depression care.
Integrity‑risk prevention is integral to the modernization of hospital governance and management capacity, yet integrity‑building in public hospitals remains a complex, systems‑level undertaking. Drawing on the three‑tier prevention model from preventive medicine, this study proposes a prevention‑and‑control framework for managing integrity and anti‑corruption risks in public hospitals. Primary prevention lays the foundation by instituting proactive safeguards before issues arise. Secondary prevention emphasizes the early detection of latent risks and incipient warning signs, followed by timely, targeted management to contain threats at their outset. Tertiary prevention entails prompt and decisive accountability actions together with comprehensive rectification once corrupt practices are identified, thereby limiting harm and restoring organizational integrity.
Objective To build a diagnosis-related groups (DRG)-anchored clinical standards framework that increases within- group care homogeneity and drives quality and efficiency gains. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 152 cases assigned to DRG group JB25 in 2024. Guided by evidence-based medicine and expert consensus, we designed standardized clinical pathways and implementation plans. Results The hospital implemented within-DRG standardization across four domains: diagnostic and therapeutic items, length of stay, drug utilization and spending, and medical consumables management. Conclusion Within-DRG standardization helps normalize clinical practice, curb unnecessary costs, and safeguard care quality and patient safety.
Objective To explore the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) combined with Balint group activities on psychiatrists' communication skills. Methods The study included 120 clinical physicians (including trainees and interns), who were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group using a random number table, with 60 physicians in each group. The control group received routine in-house lectures on health psychology and professional training in physician-patient communication; the intervention group additionally participated in MBSR combined with Balint group activities. After intervention, the two groups were compared for empathy and physician-patient communication abilities as well as anxiety and depression levels. Results After intervention, the intervention group had significantly higher scores of empathy and physician-patient communication skills and significantly lower scores of negative emotions (anxiety and depression) than the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion MBSR combined with Balint group significantly improves physician-patient communication and empathy skills, effectively reduces negative emotions, and facilitates the management of clinical physician-patient conflicts and disputes, demonstrating good application value.
In the context of a deep integration between Party building and professional work in the new era, this study aims to explore practical pathways of grassroots Party branch in the high-quality hospital development. Based on the action research method, the cardiovascular system Party branch of a tertiary hospital was taken as the research subject. The practical pathways of the interdisciplinary academic salons led by Party building for discipline development were explored. Centered on clinical technical challenges, a four-stage double-loop cycle of planning, action, observation, and reflection was adopted to integrate multidisciplinary resources, build collaborative communication platforms, and strengthen the organizational and collaborative capacity of the Party branch. Results indicated that the academic salons not only improved clinical technical skills and interdisciplinary cooperation among medical staff, but also effectively promoted the integration of Party building with professional work. Furthermore, the study developed an operational model characterized by “Party branch leadership, demand-driven approach, resource integration, and closed-loop management”, emphasizing continuous optimization in organizational mechanisms, learning methods, and evaluation systems. This practice provided a replicable pathway of grassroots Party branch in public hospitals to advance the deep integration of Party building and professional work.
Objective To survey and analyze the current status of complaint management in some public medical institutions in Henan Province, identify key characteristics and gaps, and inform future supervision and guidance. Methods In April 2025, a judgment‑based cluster sampling approach was used to administer a questionnaire to 1,296 public medical institutions across different levels in Henan Province. Descriptive statistics and chi‑square (χ2) tests were used to analyze responses. Results Significant differences across institutional levels were observed in four domains—dedicated complaints offices and facility provisioning, institutional framework development, implementation of handling procedures, and analysis‑driven improvement-with all comparisons reaching statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion To enhance complaint management and reduce complaint incidence, priority actions include: strengthening resource allocation and handling capacity at primary‑level institutions; advancing system development with strong leadership commitment; optimizing handling workflows and expanding professional training, and emphasizing continuous analysis, corrective action, and risk screening.
Objective To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to exercise prescription among general practice faculty in Taiyuan, analyze their interrelationships, and inform the training of general practitioners capable of safely and effectively prescribing exercise. Methods A cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted in Taiyuan from July to October 2021. Participants were faculty members who completed provincial- or national-level backbone general practice faculty training programs between 2019 and 2021 and received certificates of completion. Results Of 647 respondents, 629 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The knowledge score rate was 67.23%, the attitude score rate was 77.82%, and the practice score rate was 37.31%, with an overall KAP score rate of 56.97%. Faculty with a general practice background outperformed those from other specialties across all KAP dimensions (P<0.05). Attitude and practice scores differed significantly by years of service, educational level, and employing institution (P<0.05). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices were positively correlated (P<0.001). Conclusion Implementing comprehensive, multi-level, and specialty-focused training for general practice faculty can strengthen knowledge and attitudes toward exercise prescription and, through their synergistic effects, promote practice adoption, thereby improving the likelihood of successful behavior change.
Trends in scientific research outputs of Beijing's medical and health institutions from 2010 to 2022
Objective To analyze research output data from medical and health institutions in Beijing, providing evidence to accelerate scientific and technological innovation and enhance research management. Methods We extracted data from the 2010-2022 Statistical Compendium of Scientific Research Work of Medical and Health Institutions in Beijing and used SPSS 20.0 to summarize and analyze research outputs across 129 institutions. Results From 2010 to 2022, both the number of approved research projects and the total amount of approved funding in Beijing exhibited a fluctuating upward trajectory, peaking in 2022. The volume of papers indexed by the China Science and Technology Journal Database was relatively stable during 2011–2017 but declined markedly in 2018. SCI‑indexed publications showed a fluctuating upward trend, with a rapid increase in the number of papers with an impact factor ≥10. The number of published monographs first increased and then decreased over 2010–2022, reaching its maximum in 2016. Conclusion Research outputs from Beijing's medical and health institutions continued to grow, with both municipally affiliated and centrally administered institutions advancing rapidly and fostering a healthy competitive landscape. Publication patterns were notably influenced by policy shifts, indicating the sustained guiding role of government in steering scientific research.
Objective To systematically review the research trend of the Urban-Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance coordination since the launch of the new medical reform in 2009, thus revealing evolution of knowledge in this field and the changes in research hotspots. Methods A total of 231 relevant publications were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases. Bibliometric methods, such as NoteExpress for literature management, Excel for trend analysis, CiteSpace for knowledge mapping analysis, and VOSviewer for visualization analysis, a quantitative analysis was conducted from three dimensions: publication trend, cooperative network, and keyword evolution. Results The timing characteristics showed a significant correlation between "policy triggering-research response", with an increased number of publications at key nodes (in 2016 and 2019) by more than 40%. Academic cooperation was featured by large dispersion and small aggregation. Cross-regional cooperation accounted for less than 30%. Research hotspots have completed three stages of leap from institutional integration to provincial coordination, and currently focused on cutting-edge issues like transfer and continuation, intelligent monitoring, etc. Conclusion It is recommended to build a three-dimensional research framework of "policy-technology-population", focusing on breaking through key issues like provincial-level coordinated fiscal sharing mechanism, Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment reform, and participation in migrant population insurance, and providing theoretical support for the modernization of medical insurance governance.
