A Preliminary Study of Constructing Code of Conduct for Public Health Specialists in Taiwan

Abstract

Objectives: The major purpose of this preliminary study is to construct a code of ethics for public health specialists in Taiwan.

Methods: This study used Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process to collect and analyze data. Through reviewing related literatures and interviewing practitioners and academic scholars to establish the structure of codes. One round of Delphi questionnaire survey was conducted by a focus group of experts to evaluate the adequacy of codes. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was employed to calculate weights of the codes by questionnaire. The modified Delphi method involved inviting 15 experts to gather and revise opinions. For the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), 19 questionnaires were collected, with 4 invalid ones excluded, resulting in 15 questionnaires used for the final analysis.

Results: The results showed that the codes were organized into four categories, namely, general provisions, working with group, working with other practitioners and professional discipline. Finally, through a reliable and valid tool of evaluating, the code of conduct for public health specialists was presented by 20 items.

Conclusions: This study concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of findings.