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Quality indicators of integrated care for patients with head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Overveld L.F.J.,
Braspenning J.C.C.,
Hermens R.P.M.G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/coa.12724
Subject(s) - medicine , multidisciplinary approach , delphi method , health care , integrated care , head and neck cancer , dashboard , quality (philosophy) , delphi , cancer , medical physics , social science , statistics , philosophy , mathematics , epistemology , aerospace engineering , sociology , computer science , engineering , economics , economic growth , operating system
Objectives Oncological care is very complex, and delivery of integrated care with optimal alignment and collaboration of several disciplines is crucial. To monitor and effectively improve high‐quality integrated oncological care, a dashboard of valid and reliable quality indicators ( QI s) is indispensable. The aim was to develop multidisciplinary QI s to measure quality of integrated oncological care, specifically for head and neck cancer ( HNC ) patients. Design The RAND ‐modified Delphi method was used to decide on the outcome, process and structure QI s form three different perspectives. In addition, case‐mix factors were determined. Setting Integrated HNC in the Netherlands. Participants Head and neck cancer patients, chairmen of both patient organisations and medical specialists and allied health professionals involved in HNC care in the Netherlands. Main outcome measures Outcome, process and structure indicators. Results Outcome indicators were assigned to healthcare status, tumour recurrence, complications, quality of life and patient experiences. The process indicators focused on the (allied health) care aspects during the diagnostic, treatment and follow‐up phases, for example regarding waiting times, multidisciplinary team meetings and screening for the need of allied health care. Conclusions This is the first set of multidisciplinary QI s for HNC care, to assess quality of integrated care agreed by patients and professionals. This set can be used to build other oncological quality dashboards for integrated care.