Applying analytic hierarchy process method for quantitative assessment of environmental health factors in hospitals using existing quality checklists: A modeling and field study

Abstract

Background: Since there are various factors with different importance that determine environmental health status of hospitals, judging and prioritizing the required corrective actions using the current qualitative checklists is problematic and, in some cases, deceptive. This study explored a decision support model for hospital environmental health status to establish a quantitative method based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) using the Iranian National Hospital Evaluation checklist. Methods: The research was done in two separate phases; first, score weighting of the criteria and sub-criteria (questions) in the existing checklist using the AHP, and second, a field study of the environmental health status of the hospitals using a weighted checklist. In the field study, the environmental health status of the studied hospitals was sored using checklist questions, and finally, the final scores of each criterion were calculated and aggregated to determine the environmental health status of the studied hospitals. Results: Among the main criteria, the infection control criteria with a final weight coefficient of 0.5371, was the most important factor, and the building criteria with a final weight coefficient of 0.0341 had the lowest weight in determining the environmental health status of the hospitals. On average, the environmental health status of the studied hospitals was about 76%, which are in a moderate status. Conclusion: The environmental health status of Iran’s hospitals has typically been evaluated only qualitatively and without considering their weight importance. The present study provides a flexible method for quantitative assessment of the environmental health status of hospitals.