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CareTrack Kids-part 1. Assessing the appropriateness of healthcare delivered to Australian children: study protocol
Louise K Wiles1, Tamara D Hooper1, Peter D Hibbert2
1Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, Centre for Sleep Research, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
This study outlines a method to create clinical indicators for appropriate pediatric care, aiming to bridge the gap between recommended and actual patient treatment. These indicators will improve the quality of care for common childhood conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare Research
- Clinical Quality Improvement
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Significant discrepancies exist between recommended clinical guidelines and actual patient care.
- This gap highlights the need for robust methods to define and measure appropriate care.
- Paediatric conditions are a focus due to variations in care delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a research methodology for developing clinical indicators.
- To define appropriate care for common paediatric conditions.
- To improve the quality and consistency of paediatric healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Identifying paediatric conditions suitable for appropriateness of care research.
- Developing clinical indicators based on national/international guidelines and expert consensus.
- Utilizing a wiki-based approach and modified Delphi process for indicator refinement.
- Conducting a formative evaluation of the wiki-based review process.
Main Results:
- The study protocol details a systematic approach to indicator development.
- Candidate conditions and indicator criteria will be rigorously defined.
- Expert consensus will be sought through a modified Delphi process.
- Ethical approvals are secured, and dissemination plans are in place.
Conclusions:
- This methodology provides a framework for developing reliable clinical indicators.
- The developed indicators will facilitate measurement of appropriate paediatric care.
- Implementation of these indicators can lead to improved patient outcomes and healthcare quality.
Introduction:
Despite the widespread availability of clinical guidelines, considerable gaps remain between the care that is recommended (appropriate care) and the care provided. This protocol describes a research methodology to develop clinical indicators for appropriate care for common paediatric conditions.
Methods And Analysis:
We will identify conditions amenable to population-level appropriateness of care research and develop clinical indicators for each condition. Candidate conditions have been identified from published research; burden of disease, prevalence and frequency of presentation data; and quality of care priority lists. Clinical indicators will be developed through searches of national and international guidelines, and formatted with explicit criteria for inclusion, exclusion, time frame and setting. Experts will review the indicators using a wiki-based approach and modified Delphi process. A formative evaluation of the wiki process will be undertaken.
Ethics And Dissemination:
Human Research Ethics Committee approvals have been received from Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, and the Women's and Children's Health Network (South Australia). Applications are under review with Macquarie University and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. We will submit the results of the study to relevant journals and offer national and international presentations.
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