Abstract: Objective: To construct a follow-up plan for tuberculosis (TB) patients based on the “internet+” hospital-community-family linkage model. Methods: Drawing upon the “Donabedian structure-process-result” theory, a follow-up plan for TB patients was developed within the framework of the “internet+” hospital-community-family linkage model through comprehensive literature analysis and semi-structured interviews. Using Delphi method, 30 experts were consulted from January to July in 2023. The indicators were then modified to determine the final plan. The mean difference of importance scores from the last round of expert correspondence was used for the Saaty evaluation scale, and the weight for each index was calculated with the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Results: Three rounds of Delphi expert consultation were completed with effectively retrieve rates of 90.0% (27/30), 92.6% (25/27) and 92.0% (23/25), respectively, and the recommendation rates were 59.3% (16/27), 24.0% (6/25) and 8.7% (2/23), respectively. The Cr values of expert authority coefficients were 0.87, 0.91 and 0.92, respectively, and the coefficients of variation were 0.082-0.326, 0.060-0.114, 0-0.123, respectively. The Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) increased from 0.058 to 0.122, and the Chi-square tests were all P<0.01. The final index system included 3 first-level indicators (hospital-community-family linkage module, health education module, evaluation module), 19 second-level indicators, 47 third-level indicators, and the weight of each index was determined. The weights of the three first-level indicators were 0.387, 0.443, 0.170, respectively, all CR<0.1. Conclusion: Drawing upon the Donabedian theory, the “internet+” hospital-community-family linkage model of TB patient follow-up program is feasible, reliable, practical and of good clinical value. The weight of each indicator is quantized and the consistency is high, which increases the logic of the program and provides a standardized process for the follow-up of TB patients.

Key words: Tuberculosis, Computer communication networks, Follow-up studies, Delphi technique