Development of an evaluation index system for intelligent minimally invasive tumor ablation based on telemedicine

This study aimed to establish an evaluation index system for intelligent minimally invasive tumor ablation based on telemedicine, thereby providing theoretical support for the assessment, application, and promotion of remote intelligent ablation therapies.

An expert consultation questionnaire was developed based on a review of the literature. Purposive sampling was performed to select 16 experts specializing in minimally invasive oncology, telemedicine management, and healthcare informatics. Two rounds of Delphi questionnaire surveys were conducted. The index system was finalized through iterative discussions based on expert feedback. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was utilized to determine the indicator weights.

Both rounds of the questionnaire achieved 100% response rates. The expert authority coefficient reached 0.789, while the Kendall's W coefficients for the two rounds were 0.138 (P < 0.001) and 0.224 (P < 0.001), respectively. The finalized system comprised 6 first-level indicators, 13 second-level indicators, and 45 third-level indicators, establishing a comprehensive management framework for telemedicine-based intelligent tumor ablation.

The evaluation system established in this study demonstrated scientific validity and reliability. It identified critical success factors for implementing remote ablation procedures, offering a practical reference for advancing telemedicine-enabled minimally invasive cancer therapies.