Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Sep 12, 2022
Date Accepted: Apr 17, 2023
Involving health professionals in the development of quality and safety dashboards: a qualitative study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Including health professionals in the development process of quality and safety dashboards can improve their use in practice. However, which factors should be considered for a successful development process remains unclear.
Objective:
The aim of the current study is to identify the factors that are important for developing quality and safety dashboards together with health professionals, and what such a process could look like.
Methods:
We conducted a qualitative in-depth exploratory case study in which we analysed 150 pages of internal documents and interviewed 13 staff members regarding the development of a quality and safety dashboards within two care pathways of a hospital that has experience in such development. Data were analysed inductively using the constant comparative method.
Results:
The development process of both quality and safety dashboards consisted of five stages (1) familiarizing participants with dashboards and the development process; (2) brainstorm about potential indicators to be included in the dashboard; (3) prioritizing, defining and selecting indicators to be included in the dashboard; (4) examining how the indicators can be visualised; (5) implementation of the dashboard and follow-up on its use. For the process, three key factors were identified. First, ‘creating and maintaining broad involvement’, ensuring that various professions are represented and take ownership of the dashboard. ‘unburdening’, whereby quality and safety staff facilitate a structured process that has little additional burden for participants. Lastly, ‘focussing on relevance for health professionals’, referring to the inclusion of indicators with value for health professionals.
Conclusions:
Healthcare organizations seeking to develop quality and safety dashboards can use a five-stage process, whereby they are advised to focus on three key determinants. Whilst offering an important contribution to the growing literature on the inclusion of health professionals in quality improvement initiatives, this study shows that engaging in such initiatives remains challenging.
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