Developing a hospital accreditation model: a Delphi study

Abstract Background Hospital accreditation (HA) is an external evaluation of a hospital’s structures, processes and results by an independent professional accreditation body using pre-established optimum standards. The Iranian hospital accreditation system faces several challenges. The overall aim of this study was to develop a model for Iran national hospital accreditation program. Methods This research uses the modified Delphi technique to develop and verify a model of hospital accreditation. The first draft of the HA model was introduced through a critical review of 20 pioneer accreditation models and semi-structured interviews with 151 key informants from Public, private, semi-public, charity and military hospitals in Iran. Three rounds of Delphi were conducted with 28 experts of hospital accreditation to verify the proposed model. Panel members were selected from authors of research articles and key speakers in the area of hospital accreditation, senior managers of the country’s health system, university professors in the fields of health policy and management across the country. Results A comprehensive model for hospital accreditation was introduced and verified in this study. The HA model has ten constructs of which seven are enablers (“Management and leadership”, “Planning”, “Education and Research”, “employee management”, “patient management”, “resource management”, and “process management”) and three are the results (“employee results”, “patient and society results” and “hospital results”). These constructs were further broken into 43 sub-constructs. The enablers and results scored 65 and 35% of the model’s total scores respectively. Then, about 150 accreditation standards were written and verified. Conclusions A comprehensive hospital accreditation model was developed and verified. Proper attention to structures, processes and outcomes and systemic thinking during the development of the model is one of the advantages of the hospital accreditation model developed in this study. Hospital accreditation bodies can use this model to develop or revise their hospital accreditation models.

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Determining Highly Desirable Traits of an Effective Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner: A Delphi Study

Energy Psychology Journal ◽

10.9769/epj.2017.9.2.ps ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 13-25

Author(s):

Peta Stapleton ◽

Hannah Chatwin

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Delphi Technique ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Delphi Approach ◽

Core Elements ◽

Modified Delphi Technique ◽

Emotional Freedom Techniques ◽

Many Core

Due to the distinct lack of definition surrounding the desirable attributes of an effective Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) practitioner, this study utilized a modified Delphi technique to explore this. This method is designed to achieve a consensus amongst skilled panelists when an accepted body of literature is lacking. A three-round modified Delphi approach was used and participants were skilled in delivering EFT as a practitioner (N = 22). The first round was an open-ended series of questions derived from the literature, and responses to these initial questions were analyzed using content analysis (nVivo), with common themes identified and grouped together. These themes were then utilized to develop more specific quantitative questions (Likert format) to be used in the subsequent rounds. Consensus was set at 75% agreement on an item and was reached for 11 out of the 15 traits of an effective EFT practitioner identified in round 1. Consensus was also reached for seven out of the eight traits of an ineffective EFT practitioner, but was not reached for many core elements in training. These included adequate training, knowledge of other energy techniques, and the use of structured interviews, among other issues. Consensus was also not reached for the use of screening processes prior to training. These results are discussed in terms of standardization in EFT

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Role of a hospital accreditation program in developing a process management system

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance ◽

10.1108/ijhcqa-01-2018-0002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 120-137

Author(s):

Erfan Shakibaei

Keyword(s):

Process Management ◽

The Body ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Hospital Accreditation ◽

Content Type ◽

Staff Members ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Accreditation Program ◽

Private Charity

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to clarify the effects of the Iranian Hospital Accreditation Program (IHAP) on hospital processes from the viewpoint of the staff charged with establishing the program.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study is based on the data collected in semi-structured interviews conducted in 2016, which involved eight questions. Interviews were held with 70 staff members at 14 hospitals. Managerial staff were purposively interviewed based on their familiarity and involvement with the program. The hospitals were divided into five groups, comprising public, private, charity, military and social service hospitals. A thematic analysis was carried out using the collected data.FindingsThree themes emerged from the data, which together comprise a process management cycle: the establishment, implementation, and control phases of the program. For each phase, various positive trends, as well as hurdles for establishing the program, declared which were framed two sub-themes as positive effects and challenges.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the body of evidence used by policy-makers and hospital managers to improve the change management processes related to the Iranian IHAP. Although positive changes in the process management cycles at Iranian hospitals were noted, successful implementation of the program demands a thorough assessment of the hospitals’ technical and financial needs (taking into account disparities between hospitals), and there is an urgent requirement for a plan to meet these needs.

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The factors influencing the effective early career and rapid transition to a nursing specialty in differing contexts of practice: a modified Delphi consensus study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028541 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. e028541 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Diane Chamberlain ◽

Desley Hegney ◽

Clare Harvey ◽

Bruce Knight ◽

Anne Garrahy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Delphi Study ◽

Early Career ◽

Nominal Group ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Delphi Consensus ◽

Final Model ◽

Transition Processes ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Rapid Transition ◽

Time Continuum

ObjectivesThis study aimed to test and further develop the ‘Early Career and Rapid Transition to a Nursing Specialty’ (TRANSPEC) model to a nursing specialty developed from a systematic review. Semi-structured interviews of specialist clinically based nurses and a consensus Delphi study with an expert panel were used to expand and achieve consensus, agreement, reliability and stability of the model.DesignA modified Delphi, two rounds (64 and 52 Likert items) of reiterative online questionnaires and one round as a nominal group technique, was informed by qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews.Setting and participantsInterviews with 14 specialists clinical practicing registered nurses and a panel of 25 national experts participated in the Delphi study.ResultsThe interview participants experienced 14 rapid transitions and three were early career transition. The overarching themes from the preliminary model were confirmed and further expanded. These were the self (personal and professional); the transition processes (final and informal); a sense of belonging; and the overarching context of practice over a time continuum. In the Delphi, the highest rating item was ‘Specialty work colleagues respect, include, support, and accept specialist nurse on completion of transition processes’. Pre-entry was highlighted as an important time point prior to transition. All items reaching consensus were included in the final model. Cronbach α increased from 0.725 to 0.875 for the final model.ConclusionsThe TRANSPEC model is a valid and reliable evidence-based tool for use in the career pathway and development of nursing specialists. Using the Benner model ‘Novice to Expert’ after the novice incomer phase is achieved, further lifelong learning development will transform the novice specialist over time continuum.

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Curriculum Viability Indicators: A Delphi Study to Determine Standards and Inhibitors of a Curriculum

Evaluation & the Health Professions ◽

10.1177/0163278720934164 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 016327872093416

Author(s):

Rehan Ahmed Khan ◽

Annemarie Spruijt ◽

Usman Mahboob ◽

Mohamed Al Eraky ◽

Jeroen J. G. van Merrienboer

Keyword(s):

Delphi Study ◽

Curriculum Evaluation ◽

Working Environment ◽

Second Phase ◽

Leadership Assessment ◽

Faculty Leadership ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Modified Delphi Technique ◽

Two Phases ◽

Communication And Technology

Curriculum evaluation is typically done by using quality standards defined by accrediting bodies. This does not include inhibitors that hinder the achievement of standards. Hence, to address both standards and inhibitors, we have coined the new concept of “curriculum viability.” This study establishes consensus among experts on curriculum viability indicators, i.e. standards and inhibitors, and aims to provide a framework for evaluating the curriculum viability. The study was done in two phases. In the first phase, a consensus was established on the curriculum viability indicators using the Modified Delphi Technique using two rounds. In the first round of the Delphi process, 25 experts participated, which were reduced to 19 in the second round. After two rounds, experts developed a consensus on 40 out of 44 items. These included 27 standards and 13 inhibitors. In the second phase, 18 experts rank-ordered the indicators according to their relative importance in the areas of educational content and strategies, faculty, leadership, assessment, students, educational/working environment, communication, and technology. The list of indicators provides a framework for evaluating the curriculum viability, and their ordering enables curriculum managers to prioritize them during curriculum evaluation.

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Classification of Patients for whom benefit no longer outweighs harm of long-term opioid therapy: Protocol for a Delphi study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33310 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Raymond Van Cleve ◽

Sara Edmond ◽

Jennifer Snow ◽

Anne Black ◽

Jamie Pommeranz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Opioid Therapy ◽

High Dose ◽

Veterans Health ◽

Health Administration ◽

Opioid Dependency ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Modified Delphi Technique

UNSTRUCTURED Introduction: Patients with chronic pain who have been prescribed long term opioid therapies often come to a point where the benefits of their therapy are out weighted by the risks associated with taking such a high dose of opioid medication. These patients need to taper off their opioid therapy while simultaneously treating their chronic pain. At the 2019 Veterans' Health Administration State of the Art Conference, there was an acknowledgment of a lack of clinical guidance with regards to treating this subset of patients. Some of the participants believed clinicians and patients would both benefit from a new diagnostic entity describing this situation where patients needed to have their opioid dependency and chronic pain simultaneously treated. Given the ability of a Delphi method to synthesize input from a broad range of experts, we felt this technique could be used to determine if a new diagnostic entity was needed and what the criteria of the diagnostic entity would be. Methods: This would be a modified Delphi technique involving three rounds. The first round would be a series of open ended questions asking about the necessity of this diagnostic entity, how this condition is different from OUD, and what it's possible diagnostic criteria would be. After synthesizing the responses collected, a second round would be conducted to ask participants to rate the different responses offered by their peers. These ratings would be collected, analyzed, and would generate a final potential definition for this clinical phenomena. In the third round we would circulate this definition and would hopefully gain consensus. Dissemination: This protocol has been approved by the Internal Review Board at the Connecticut VA and the study is in process. We hope that other researchers can use this protocol to conduct similar studies and further explore how patients with concurrent chronic pain and opioid dependency can be best served.

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Current research priorities for UK occupational physicians and occupational health researchers: a modified Delphi study

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2018-105114 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (11) ◽

pp. 830-836 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Drushca Lalloo ◽

Evangelia Demou ◽

Julia Smedley ◽

Ira Madan ◽

Kaveh Asanati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Research Strategy ◽

Occupational Physicians ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Modified Delphi Technique ◽

The Uk ◽

Almost All ◽

Effectiveness Studies

ObjectivesStudies identifying national occupational health (OH) research priorities have been conducted in several countries to establish where OH research should be focused and where funding should be targeted. However, the UK findings are now over 20 years old, and OH practice is continuously evolving. The aim of this study was to identify current research priorities for UK occupational physicians (OPs) and occupational health researchers (OHRs).MethodsCurrent research priorities in OH were identified using a modified Delphi technique. This was conducted in two rounds to achieve consensus. Research priorities were rated, and then ranked using questionnaires developed from expert panel discussions, key research topics identified from the medical literature and participant feedback. Overall and intergroup comparisons were completed for the ranking scores.ResultsConsensus among OPs and OHRs was high with almost all (9/10) primary domains rated as ‘very important’ or ‘absolutely necessary’ by more than 54% of respondents. The research priority areas ranked highest were jointly economic evaluation/cost effectiveness studies and disability management followed by occupational disease/injury/illness. Occupational health policy was ranked lowest after sickness absence management and health promotion. The secondary domain analysis identified priority emphasis on mental health and psychosocial hazards within the workplace and the need to further develop evidence-based guidance for clinical OH practice.ConclusionsWe identified the current research priorities for UK OPs and OHRs. The findings will inform future national OH research strategy and support research that addresses important knowledge gaps within OH and other interdisciplinary specialties.

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The Physical Attributes Most Required in Professional Ballet: A Delphi Study

Sports Medicine International Open ◽

10.1055/a-0798-3570 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 03 (01) ◽

pp. E1-E5 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Moira McCormack ◽

Howard Bird ◽

Akbar de Medici ◽

Fares Haddad ◽

Jane Simmonds

Keyword(s):

Delphi Study ◽

Survey Question ◽

Ballet Dancers ◽

Anatomy And Physiology ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Modified Delphi Technique ◽

Physical Attributes ◽

Classical Ballet ◽

Initial Survey ◽

International Experts

Abstract Background It is commonly accepted that dancers are undoubtedly athletes, with ballet perhaps the most demanding dance form. No previous study has sought to define the physical attributes most desired for classical ballet by professional companies and vocational schools. These are likely to include both aesthetic features and attributes that reduce the risk of injury as well as enhance performance. Method An initial survey question using the modified Delphi technique was sent using Opinio Survey Software to a selected international expert panel. This was drawn both from those involved in selection of elite professional ballet dancers, and the international medical professionals involved in the care of dancers. The first questionnaire was open-ended to scope for all the physical attributes most favoured by the professional experts. Results There were 148 responses from the panel of international experts. In total 34 physical attributes were suggested. The 2 most recommended physical criteria for selection into the profession were overall flexibility and overall strength. These results are discussed in the context of the published literature on the mechanics, anatomy and physiology of ballet. Conclusion Flexibility and strength are the 2 features most sought after in elite ballet dancers.

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Identifying competencies for future graphic design graduates in Malaysia: A Delphi study

Journal of Graphic Engineering and Design ◽

10.24867/jged-2021-3-013 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 12-23

Author(s):

Shaw-Chiang Wong ◽

◽

Muhammad Zaffwan Idris ◽

Wee-Chuen Tan ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Graphic Design ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Work Performance ◽

Effective Work ◽

Entry Level ◽

Ethical Competence ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Wide Range ◽

Modified Delphi Technique ◽

Technical Production

Traditionally, graphic design (GD) education focuses on the training of technical production skills to prepare graduates for entry-level employment. However, due to the new challenges and the expanding opportunities of emerging practices, GD graduates are expected to master a wide range of additional competencies beyond traditional scope. The study aims to identify the competencies required by future GD graduates in the context of Malaysia. A two-round modified Delphi technique was used to gain consensus from a panel of experts consisted of design educators and industry practitioners regarding the competencies needed by the graduates for effective work performance. A total of 108 competencies were generated. All accepted competencies were ranked ‘very important’ and ‘extremely important’ by at least 75 percent of the respondents in Round Two. These competencies could be classified into 29 subdomains under five components, i.e., cognitive competence, functional competence, personal competence, ethical competence, and meta-competencies. The findings of this study are useful for enhancing the education and employability of graphic designers as they provide a common vocabulary to relevant stakeholders about the standards of performance for new entrants to the GD profession.

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