Development Accreditation Modules for Maternity Hospitals: A Mixed-Methods Study

One of the most important and widely used approaches to assessing the quality of hospital services is accreditation. Now, most accreditation organizations worldwide use the same standards for all types of hospitals. The study aimed to address this gap and to develop accreditation modules for Maternity Hospitals.

This applied mixed-methods study was conducted in Iran from 2023 to 2025 and proceeded in two phases. In Phase 1, a descriptive qualitative approach solicited participant input on potential modules. After iterative discussions among the research team and expert input, Phase 2 combined Phase 1 findings to develop an initial accreditation model, which then entered the Delphi phase. An expert panel convened for one session and a separate Delphi round to refine and validate the model.

Of the 11 modules proposed by the participants, seven were approved in the second phase and included in the model. The detailed modules for Maternity hospitals were finalized under the following categories: leadership and management, continuous quality improvement, patient safety and infection control, outpatient and para-clinical services, patient engagement, medication management, and Infertility care. The only difference between the accreditation modules for maternity hospitals and those for other hospitals was the infertility criterion.

The overarching accreditation framework at the module level is uniform mainly across all hospital types. However, through the systematic development and implementation of tailored standards, this approach will enhance the accreditation process further and elevate the quality of healthcare services provided in Maternity hospitals.