Quality indicators for pharmacist follow-up of diabetes mellitus: A RAND-modified Delphi method

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Care
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a complex condition requiring multidisciplinary care, including pharmacist follow-up.
• Quality indicators and feedback are key for improving care in primary medicine.
• Existing pharmaceutical care guidelines for diabetes in Belgium lack validation, hindering quality indicator development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define validated, pharmaceutical record-extractable quality indicators for diabetes care.
• To evaluate the quality of pharmaceutical care provided to diabetes patients in Belgium.

Main Methods:

• A RAND-modified Delphi method was employed with a multidisciplinary Belgian panel (N=12).
• Recommendations from international guidelines were assessed for suitability as quality indicators using SMART principles.
• A consensus meeting and validation round refined recommendations into quality indicators.

Main Results:

• 82 recommendations were initially presented to the panel.
• 24 high-potential recommendations were refined into 14.
• Three recommendations were converted into extractable quality indicators: vaccine delivery and medication dispensing.

Conclusions:

• 14 quality indicators were established to evaluate Belgian pharmacists' care for diabetes patients.
• These indicators cover screening, pharmacological treatment, and patient education/lifestyle management.
• The indicators will facilitate identifying and implementing improvements for optimal diabetes care.