Abstract: Objective: To develop the assessment index system for the demand of discharge planning of elderly inpatients, and to provide references for early identification of elderly patients with high demand in transitional care. Methods: Through literature research, Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process, the framework of the assessment index system for the demand of discharge planning of elderly inpatients and the weight value of each assessment index were constructed. Results: The recovery rates of the two rounds of Delphi expert consultation were 100% respectively and the authoritative coefficients of experts was 0.929. After 2 rounds of expert consultation, the variation coefficients of each first-level index ranged from 0.06 to 0.21, and the coefficient coordination was 0.208, the variation coefficients of each second-level index ranged from 0 to 0.20, and the coefficient coordination was 0.140. Finally, the assessment index system contained 9 first-level indicators and 34 second-level indicators. Conclusion: The assessment index system for the demand of discharge planning of elderly inpatients can provide unified standard for clinical nurses to assess the demand of discharge planning, and can early identify the elderly patients with high demand in transitional care.

Key words: discharge planning; hospitalized elderly patients; index; Delphi technique