Validation of quality indicators for the organization of palliative care: A modified RAND Delphi study in seven European countries (the Europall project)

Abstract

The modified RAND Delphi process resulted in 56 international face-validated quality indicators to measure and compare organizational aspects of palliative care. These quality indicators, aimed to assess and improve the organization of palliative care, will be pilot tested in palliative care settings all over Europe and be used in the EU FP7 funded IMPACT project.

Consensus on quality indicators to assess the organisation of palliative cancer and dementia care applicable across national healthcare systems and selected by international experts

“…In the recent literature several sets of QIs for palliative care have been identified [11, 12, 17, 38, 55]. For example, Pastrana et al used a nominal group technique to identify indicators for the assessment and evaluation of palliative care [38].…”

“…An update of this review, published in 2013, included a further 187 QIs, bringing the total to 326 QIs, with still few QIs about the organisation of palliative care [55]. Around the same time, Woitha et al developed a set of 56 QIs [12, 17]. Woitha et al conducted two written Delphi rounds, leaving little room for discussion, while we conducted a consensus round with extensive opportunity to discuss the QIs.…”

“…They have been used effectively to assess and improve hospital care, [13] primary care, [14] and dementia care [15, 16]. Several studies have also developed QIs to improve the structures and process needed for the delivery of good quality palliative cancer or dementia care [11, 12, 17, 18]. However, these studies were performed five or more years ago, developed large sets of QIs, ranging from 56 to 142 QIs.…”

Promoting further use of palliative care in cancer care centers

“…These are often constructed by consensus of experts; often outcomes are expressed in proportions within caring processes or events as outcomes with arbitrary cutoffs on what good proportion is and what needs improvement [31,34]. Most quality indicators within palliative care are process indicators which often center on documentation of care.…”

Palliative medicine and family doctor – past, present, future

“…Интенсивно разрабатываются критерии оценки качества оказания ПП [9] . Предлагаются 56 инди-каторов, определяющих качество службы ПП, ее доступность, конкретные симптомы, персонал, ме-тодологию документирования клинических дан-ных, качество и безопасность процедур, отчетность о клинических действиях, состояние образования в области ПП .…”