JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Health organizations face the critical task of executing and overseeing comprehensive healthcare. To address the challenges associated with this task, evidence-based dashboards have emerged as valuable tools. Since 2016, the regional health organizations of Quebec, Canada, are responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Quebec Alzheimer Plan (QAP), a provincial plan which aims to reinforce the capacity of primary care services to detect, diagnose, and treat persons with dementia. Despite the provincial scope of the QAP, the diverse material and human resources across regions introduce variability in the interest, utility, and specific needs associated with these dashboards.

Objective:

This study aims to assess the interest and utility of dashboards to support the QAP implementation, as well as the needs for improving them according to the perspectives of various types of professionals involved across regions.

Methods:

An evaluative study using qualitative methods was conducted within a collaborative research approach, involving different stakeholders (the ministerial advisor and the four project managers responsible for supporting the implementation of the QAP, as well as researchers/scientific advisors). To support these organizations, we developed tailored, two-page, paper dashboards, detailing quantitative data on the prevalence of dementia and the use of health services by persons with dementia, and achievements and challenges of the QAP implementation in each organization’s jurisdiction. We then conducted 23 focus groups with the managers and leading clinicians involved in the implementation of the QAP of each regional health organization. Real-time notes were taken using a structured observation grid. Content analysis was conducted according to different regions (organizations with university mandates or nearby organisations, labelled "university/peripheral"; organizations for which only part of the territory is in rural areas labelled "mixed"; organizations in remote or isolated areas, "remote/isolated") and according to different types of participants (managers, leading clinicians, other participants).

Results:

Participants from organizations in all regions expressed interest in these dashboards and found them useful in several ways. However, they highlighted the need for indicators on orphan patients and other healthcare providers. Differences between regions were observed, particularly in the interest in continuity of care in university/peripheral regions and the need for diagnostic tools adapted to the culture in remote/isolated regions.

Conclusions:

These dashboards support the implementation of an Alzheimer's Plan and contribute to the emergence of a learning health care system culture. This project allows each region to increase its monitoring capacity for the implementation of the QAP and facilitates reflection among individuals locally carrying out the implementation. The perspectives expressed will guide the preparation of the next iteration of the dashboards. Clinical Trial: Not applicable