WHO Standards-based questionnaire to measure health workers' perspective on the quality of care around the time of childbirth in the WHO European region: development and mixed-methods validation in six countries. Issue 4 (8th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valente, Emanuelle Pessa; Covi, Benedetta; Mariani, Ilaria; Morano, Sandra; Otalea, Marina; Nanu, Ioana; Nanu, Micaela Iuliana; Elden, Helen; Linden, Karolina; Zaigham, Mehreen; Vik, Eline Skirnisdottir; Kongslien, Sigrun; Nedberg, Ingvild; Costa, Raquel; Rodrigues, Carina; Dias, Heloísa; Drandić, Daniela; Kurbanović, Magdalena; Sacks, Emma; Muzigaba, Moise; Lincetto, Ornella; Lazzerini, Marzia
• Other Names: author non-byline.; Ćerimagic Amira author non-byline.; Virginie Rozée author non-byline.; Rochebrochard Elise deLa author non-byline.; Löfgren Kristina author non-byline.; Miani Céline author non-byline.; Batram-Zantvoort Stephanie author non-byline.; Wandschneider Lisa author non-byline.; Verardi Giuseppa author non-byline.; Zanin Beatrice author non-byline.; Chertok Ilana author non-byline.; Artzi-Medvedik Rada author non-byline.; Pumpure Elizabete author non-byline.; Rezeberga Dace author non-byline.; Vaska Agnija author non-byline.; Jakovicka Dārta author non-byline.; Rudzīte Paula author non-byline.; Ērmane Elīna author non-byline.; Vilcāne Katrīna Paula author non-byline.; Arendt Maryse author non-byline.; Tasch Barbara author non-byline.; Baranowska Barbara author non-byline.; Tataj-Puzyna Urszula author non-byline.; Węgrzynowska Maria author non-byline.; Barata Catarina author non-byline.; Santos Teresa author non-byline.; Yarotskaya Ekaterina author non-byline.; Radetić Jelena author non-byline.; Ružičić Jovana author non-byline.; Drglin Zalka author non-byline.; Ponikvar Barbara Mihevc author non-byline.; Bohinec Anja author non-byline.; Brigidi Serena author non-byline.; Castañeda Lara Martín author non-byline.; Viver Ana Canales author non-byline.; Sengpiel Verena author non-byline.; Labrusse Claire De author non-byline.; Abderhalden Alessia author non-byline.; Pfund Anouck author non-byline.; Thorn Harriet author non-byline.;
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 12:Issue 4(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-08
• Subjects: Quality in health care -- OBSTETRICS -- NEONATOLOGY; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056753
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Develop and validate a WHO Standards-based online questionnaire to measure the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around the time of childbirth from the health workers' perspective. Design: Mixed-methods study. Setting: Six countries of the WHO European Region. Participants and methods: The questionnaire is based on lessons learnt in previous studies, and was developed in three sequential phases: (1) WHO Quality Measures were prioritised and content, construct and face validity were assessed through a Delphi involving a multidisciplinary board of experts from 11 countries of the WHO European Region; (2) translation/back translation of the English version was conducted following The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research guidelines; (3) internal consistency, intrarater reliability and acceptability were assessed among 600 health workers in six countries. Results: The questionnaire included 40 items based on WHO Standards Quality Measures, equally divided into four domains: provision of care, experience of care, availability of human and physical resources, organisational changes due to COVID-19; and its organised in six sections. It was translated/back translated in 12 languages: Bosnian, Croatian, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish. The Cronbach's alpha values were ≥0.70 for each questionnaire section where questions were hypothesised to be interrelated, indicating good internal consistence. Cohen K or Gwet's AC1 values were ≥0.60, suggesting good intrarater reliability, except for one question. Acceptability was good with only 1.70% of health workers requesting minimal changes in question wording. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the questionnaire has good content, construct, face validity, internal consistency, intrarater reliability and acceptability in six countries of the WHO European Region. Future studies may further explore the questionnaire's use in other countries, and how to translate evidence generated by this tool into policies to improve the QMNC. Trail registration number: NCT04847336