Research on development strategies for county-level traditional Chinese medicine services based on Grounded Theory

Abstract: This study aims to analyze the development of county-level Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services in Guangxi based on grounded theory, providing theoretical support for proposing corresponding countermeasures to promote the development of TCM services in Guangxi counties. A semi-structured interview outline was designed to conduct semi-structured interviews with relevant informants. Using grounded theory, the interview results were coded and analyzed with NVivo 11 software. Through the three-level coding process of procedural grounded theory, 114 initial concepts, 22 main categories, and 9 core categories were identified, leading to the formation of a theoretical framework for the development of county-level TCM services. Medical resources and internal/external influencing factors were identified as the prerequisites for the development of county-level TCM services. The action strategies for the development of TCM services at the county level include service capacity building, service capacity improvement, and medical staff proactivity. The outcomes of TCM service development at the county level are changes in residents’ healthcare-seeking behavior and the coordinated development of county-level healthcare institutions. We found improving the prerequisites for the development of county-level TCM services, continuing to implement the action strategies, and fostering a positive atmosphere for the use of TCM across society are key measures to achieving the sustainable development of county-level TCM services.