Developing a Preventive Response Policy for Highly Infectious Diseases in Nursing Homes: Integration of Fuzzy Multi-criteria Decision-Making and TRIZ Method.

The aging population in Taiwan has increased the demand for long-term care and healthcare facilities, posing challenges in addressing highly infectious diseases, particularly among vulnerable groups like the elderly and disabled. Existing literature on nursing homes primarily focuses on influenza and general public health emergencies, neglecting preventive policies for highly infectious and less curable diseases. With limited treatment options and vaccines for emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19, exploring preventive strategies becomes crucial. This study addresses the research gap by utilizing the fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (FMCDM) method, including the fuzzy Delphi method, fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL)—based analytic network process, fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and fuzzy VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR). Methodological enhancements, such as integrating fuzzy importance-performance analysis and fuzzy DANP into a 2D matrix, are proposed. The study also considers resource acquisition and technical difficulty, leading to fuzzy multidimensional importance-performance analysis. Incorporating the theory of inventive problem-solving (TRIZ) into FMCDM addresses practical solution gaps from previous evaluations. The study provides pertinent recommendations for academic and related institutions to enhance preventive strategies and contingency policies for highly infectious diseases in nursing homes and healthcare facilities. The research contributes methodological advancements and practical insights by integrating fuzzy decision-making methods and TRIZ, facilitating the development of effective preventive measures and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]