Abstract:
Objective:To lay necessary foundation for development of Body Constitution Scale for children in Lingnan area,Delphi method was applied to evaluate and select essential items for body constitution classification.
Methods:Based on previous studies on literature and clinical experience,seven types of body constitutions,including normal constitution,qi-deficiency constitution,yang-deficiency constitution,yin-deficiency constitution,dampness-heat constitution,phlegm-damp constitution and qi-stagnation constitution,were established and all related symptoms and signs were listed as items for screening.Twenty-eight specialists were inquired in the two rounds of consultation using self-made Delphi questionnaire.
Results:Response rates in the two rounds of consultation were 100% and 929%,respectively.Of the initial 49 items,17 were removed and one modified after Round 1 and in the remained 31 items,6 items were combined into 3.The 29 items were surveyed in Round 2 and all reached the criteria and the average score of each item was higher than 15,ratio of full score higher than 50%,and coefficient of variance less than 03.
Conclusion:By Delphi method,a Body Constitution Scale for children in Lingnan area has been initially developed with eligible reliability and representativeness， which lays a solid foundation for the development of the following scale.

Key words: TCM body constitution, Delphi method, Lingnan, Children