Development of quality indicators to monitor radiotherapy care for men with prostate cancer: A modified Delphi method. Issue 2 (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsiamis, Ellie; Millar, Jeremy; Baxi, Siddhartha; Borg, Martin; De Ieso, Paolo; Elsaleh, Hany; Foroudi, Farshad; Higgs, Braden; Holt, Tanya; Martin, Jarad; Moretti, Kim; Pryor, David; Skala, Marketa; Evans, Sue
• Is Part Of: Radiotherapy and oncology. Volume 128:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 308
• Page End: 314
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Quality indicators -- Healthcare -- Radiotherapy -- Prostatic neoplasms -- Quality of health care; Oncology -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Periodicals; Medical Oncology -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiothérapie -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9940642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2018.04.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-8140

Abstract

Abstract: Background and purpose: Quality indicators (QIs) have been developed for many aspects of prostate cancer care, but are under-developed with regard to radiotherapy treatment. We aimed to develop a valid, relevant and feasible set of core QIs to measure quality of radiotherapy care in men with prostate cancer. Materials and methods: We used a RAND-modified Delphi process to select QIs that were regarded as both important and feasible measures of quality radiotherapy care. This involved two phases: (1) a literature review to identify a list of proposed QIs; and (2) a QI selection process by an expert panel ( n = 12) conducted in a series of three rounds: two online questionnaires' and one face-to-face meeting. The RAND criterion identified variation in ratings and determined the level of agreement after each round of voting. Results: A total of 144 candidate QIs, which included measures from pre-treatment to post-treatment and survivorship care were identified. After three rounds of voting, the panel approved a comprehensive set of 17 QIs, with most assessing a process of care ( n = 16, 94.1%) and the remaining assessing a health outcome. Conclusion: This study developed a core set of 17 QIs which will be used to report from the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry-Australia & New Zealand, to monitor the quality of radiotherapy care prostate cancer patients receive.