scholarly journals Selecting contextually appropriate performance indicators for Northern maternity care systems: A modified Delphi approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Rich ◽  
Thomsen D'Hont ◽  
Kellie Murphy ◽  
Jeremy Veillard ◽  
Susan Chatwood

Abstract Background Meaningful performance measurement requires indicators to be scientifically robust and strategically focused. For many circumpolar states, indicators aligned with national strategies may ignore the priorities of northern, remote, or Indigenous populations. The aim of this project was to identify contextually appropriate performance indicators for maternity care in Northern regions. Methods A scoping review generated a working list of indicators. Fourteen maternity care and health systems experts then participated in a modified Delphi consensus process. Participants rated proposed indicators according to importance, circumpolar relevance, validity, and reliability and suggested additional indicators for consideration. Results Consensus was achieved after two rounds. Eleven indicators were rated highly on all four criteria. Twenty-nine indicators, largely focused on social determinants of health, health care responsiveness, and accessibility, were identified for further research. Conclusions The Delphi approach was effective in identifying indicators for maternity care in Northern regions. Further research and collaboration with key stakeholders is necessary to further develop indicators of health system responsiveness and accessibility.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Rich ◽  
Thomsen D’Hont ◽  
Kellie E. Murphy ◽  
Jeremy Veillard ◽  
Susan Chatwood

Abstract Background Meaningful performance measurement requires indicators to be scientifically robust and strategically focused. For many circumpolar states, indicators aligned with national strategies may ignore the priorities of northern, remote, or Indigenous populations. The aim of this project was to identify contextually appropriate performance indicators for maternity care in circumpolar regions. Methods Fourteen maternity care and health systems experts participated in a modified Delphi consensus process. The list of proposed indicators was derived from a previously published scoping review. Fourteen participants rated each proposed indicator according to importance, circumpolar relevance, validity, and reliability and suggested additional indicators for consideration. Results Consensus was achieved after two rounds, as measured by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87. Eleven indicators, many of which represented physical health outcomes, were ranked highly on all four criteria. Twenty-nine additional indicators, largely focused on social determinants of health, health care responsiveness, and accessibility, were identified for further research. Travel for care, cultural safety and upstream structural determinants of health were identified as important themes. Conclusions This study identified the important gaps between current performance measurement strategies and the context and values that permeate maternal-child health in circumpolar regions. The indicators identified in this study provide an important foundation for ongoing work. We recommend that future work encompass an appreciation for the intersectoral nature of social, structural, and colonial determinants of maternal-child health in circumpolar regions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 656-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olavo Fernandes ◽  
Sean K. Gorman ◽  
Richard S. Slavik ◽  
William M. Semchuk ◽  
Steve Shalansky ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0226489
Author(s):  
Yasmin Khan ◽  
Adalsteinn D. Brown ◽  
Anna R. Gagliardi ◽  
Tracey O’Sullivan ◽  
Sara Lacarte ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Zeliha Özşahin ◽  
Sümeyye Altiparmak ◽  
Yeşim Aksoy Derya ◽  
Burcu Kayhan Tetik ◽  
Feyza Inceoğlu

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Fusco ◽  
◽  
Vincenzo Leuzzi ◽  
Pasquale Striano ◽  
Roberta Battini ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare and underdiagnosed neurometabolic disorder resulting in a complex neurological and non-neurological phenotype, posing diagnostic challenges resulting in diagnostic delay. Due to the low number of patients, gathering high-quality scientific evidence on diagnosis and treatment is difficult. Additionally, based on the estimated prevalence, the number of undiagnosed patients is likely to be high. Methods Italian experts in AADC deficiency formed a steering committee to engage clinicians in a modified Delphi consensus to promote discussion, and support research, dissemination and awareness on this disorder. Five experts in the field elaborated six main topics, each subdivided into 4 statements and invited 13 clinicians to give their anonymous feedback. Results 100% of the statements were answered and a consensus was reached at the first round. This enabled the steering committee to acknowledge high rates of agreement between experts on clinical presentation, phenotypes, diagnostic work-up and treatment strategies. A research gap was identified in the lack of standardized cognitive and motor outcome data. The need for setting up an Italian working group and a patients’ association, together with the dissemination of knowledge inside and outside scientific societies in multiple medical disciplines were recognized as critical lines of intervention. Conclusions The panel expressed consensus with high rates of agreement on a series of statements paving the way to disseminate clear messages concerning disease presentation, diagnosis and treatment and strategic interventions to disseminate knowledge at different levels. Future lines of research were also identified.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e045402
Author(s):  
Caroline King ◽  
Robert Arnold ◽  
Emily Dao ◽  
Jennifer Kapo ◽  
Jane Liebschutz ◽  
...  

IntroductionManagement of opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) among individuals with serious illness is an important yet understudied issue. Palliative care clinicians caring for individuals with serious illness, many of whom may live for months or years, describe a complex tension between weighing the benefits of opioids, which are considered a cornerstone of pain management in serious illness, and serious opioid-related harms like opioid misuse and OUD. And yet, little literature exists to inform the management of opioid misuse and OUDs among individuals with serious illness. Our objective is to provide evidence-based management guidance to clinicians caring for individuals with serious illness who develop opioid misuse or OUD.Methods and analysisWe chose a modified Delphi approach, which is appropriate when empirical evidence is lacking and expert input must be used to shape clinical guidance. We sought to recruit 60 clinicians with expertise in palliative care, addiction or both to participate in this study. We created seven patient cases that capture important management challenges in individuals with serious illness prescribed opioid therapy. We used ExpertLens, an online platform for conducting modified Delphi panels. Participants completed three rounds of data collection. In round 1, they rated and commented on the appropriateness of management choices for cases. In round 2, participants reviewed and discussed their own and other participants’ round 1 numerical responses and comments. In round 3 (currently ongoing), participants again reviewed rounds 1 and 2, and are allowed to change their final numerical responses. We used ExpertLens to automatically identify whether there is consensus, or disagreement, among responses in panels. Only round 3 responses will be used to assess final consensus and disagreement.Ethics and disseminationThis project received ethical approval from the University of Pittsburgh’s Institutional Review Board (study 19110301) and the RAND Institutional Research Board (study 2020-0142). Guidance from this work will be disseminated through national stakeholder networks to gain buy-in and endorsement. This study will also form the basis of an implementation toolkit for clinicians caring for individuals with serious illness who are at risk of opioid misuse or OUD.


Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 208-216
Author(s):  
Arun Venkatesan ◽  
Felicia C. Chow ◽  
Allen Aksamit ◽  
Russell Bartt ◽  
Thomas P. Bleck ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo delineate a comprehensive curriculum for fellowship training in neuroinfectious diseases, we conducted a modified Delphi approach to reach consensus among 11 experts in the field.MethodsThe authors invited a diverse range of experts from the American Academy of Neurology Neuro-Infectious Diseases (AAN Neuro-ID) Section to participate in a consensus process using a modified Delphi technique.ResultsA comprehensive list of topics was generated with 101 initial items. Through 3 rounds of voting and discussion, a curriculum with 83 items reached consensus.ConclusionsThe modified Delphi technique provides an efficient and rigorous means to reach consensus on topics requiring expert opinion. The AAN Neuro-ID section provided the pool of diverse experts, the infrastructure, and the community through which to accomplish the consensus project successfully. This process could be applied to other subspecialties and sections at the AAN.


2020 ◽  
pp. 135245852095231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agostino Riva ◽  
Valeria Barcella ◽  
Simone V Benatti ◽  
Marco Capobianco ◽  
Ruggero Capra ◽  
...  

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at increased risk of infection. Vaccination can mitigate these risks but only if safe and effective in MS patients, including those taking disease-modifying drugs. Methods: A modified Delphi consensus process (October 2017–June 2018) was used to develop clinically relevant recommendations for making decisions about vaccinations in patients with MS. A series of statements and recommendations regarding the efficacy, safety and timing of vaccine administration in patients with MS were generated in April 2018 by a panel of experts based on a review of the published literature performed in October 2017. Results: Recommendations include the need for an ‘infectious diseases card’ of each patient’s infectious and immunisation history at diagnosis in order to exclude and eventually treat latent infections. We suggest the implementation of the locally recommended vaccinations, if possible at MS diagnosis, otherwise with vaccination timing tailored to the planned/current MS treatment, and yearly administration of the seasonal influenza vaccine regardless of the treatment received. Conclusion: Patients with MS should be vaccinated with careful consideration of risks and benefits. However, there is an urgent need for more research into vaccinations in patients with MS to guide evidence-based decision making.


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