Development and Validation of Cardiology-Specific Quality Indicators for Clinical Pharmacists: A Modified Delphi...

Clinical pharmacists play a critical role in cardiology by optimizing pharmacotherapy and improving patient outcomes. However, despite their growing importance, standardized quality indicators to evaluate their impact in clinical practice remain lacking.

This study aimed to develop and validate a set of cardiology-specific Quality Indicator Drug Therapy Problems (QI-DTPs) defined as medication-related quality indicators focused on identifying, preventing, and resolving drug therapy problems-using a modified Delphi technique in Saudi Arabia.

Twenty-three candidate QI-DTPs were developed based on a comprehensive review of current cardiology guidelines and evidence-based literature, refined by an expert advisory group. A panel of sixteen experienced clinical pharmacists with cardiology expertise from Saudi Arabia evaluated these indicators using a modified Delphi approach conducted over three iterative rounds. Each indicator was rated on a nine-point Likert scale (1 = strong disagreement to 9 = strong agreement). Indicators achieving ≥75% consensus were considered validated.

Sixteen expert clinical pharmacists participated (69% male, 31% female), most of whom had completed a pharmacy residency and had cardiology-related clinical experience. High levels of agreement were achieved across the Delphi rounds, and all 23 proposed QI-DTPs met the predefined ≥75% consensus threshold, demonstrating strong agreement regarding their relevance, clarity, and applicability in cardiology practice.

The study successfully identified and validated 23 QI-DTPs, reflecting strong consensus among clinical pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Implementation of these indicators in clinical practice could enhance the quality of cardiovascular care, reinforce pharmacist-led interventions, and promote medication safety. Future research should assess the direct impact of these quality metrics on patient outcomes.