Selecting topic areas for developing quality standards in a resource-limited setting

Autor: Roongnapa Khampang, Sarayuth Khuntha, Phorntida Hadnorntun, Suthasinee Kumluang, Sonvanee Tanuchit, Sripen Tantivess, Yot Teerawattananon
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: BMJ Open Quality, Vol 8, Iss 1 (2019)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2018-0004
2399-6641
DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000491
Popis: Variation in practices of and access to health promotion and disease prevention (P&P) across geographical areas have been studied in Thailand as well as other healthcare settings. The implementation of quality standards (QS)—a concise set of evidence-informed quality statements designed to drive and measure priority quality improvements—can be an option to solve the problem. This paper aims to provide an overview of the priority setting process of topic areas for developing QS and describes the criteria used. Topic selection consisted of an iterative process involving several steps and relevant stakeholders. Review of existing documents on the principles and criteria used for prioritising health technology assessment topics were performed. Problems with healthcare services were reviewed, and stakeholder consultation meetings were conducted to discuss current problems and comment on the proposed prioritisation criteria. Topics were then prioritised based on both empirical evidence derived from literature review and stakeholders’ experiences through a deliberative process. Preterm birth, pre-eclampsia and postpartum haemorrhage were selected. The three health problems had significant disease burden; were prevalent among pregnant women in Thailand; led to high mortality and morbidity in mothers and children and caused variation in the practices and service uptake at health facilities. Having agreed-on criteria is one of the important elements of the priority setting process. The criteria should be discussed and refined with various stakeholders. Moreover, key stakeholders, especially the implementers of QS initiative, should be engaged in a constructive way and should be encouraged to actively participate and contribute significantly in the process.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals