BACKGROUND: Eumusc.net (http://www.eumusc.net) is a European project supported by the EU and European League Against Rheumatism to improve musculoskeletal care in Europe. OBJECTIVE: To develop patient-centred healthcare quality indicators (HCQIs) for healthcare provision for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Based on a systematic literature search, existing HCQIs for RA were identified and their contents analysed and categorised referring to a list of 16 standards of care developed within the eumusc.net. An international expert panel comprising 14 healthcare providers and two patient representatives added topics and during repeated Delphi processes by email ranked the topics and rephrased suggested HCQIs with the preliminary set being established during a second expert group meeting. After an audit process by rheumatology units (including academic centres) in six countries (The Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Italy, Austria and Sweden), a final version of the HCQIs was established. RESULTS: 56 possible topics for HCQIs were processed resulting in a final set of HCQIs for RA (n=14) including two for structure (patient information and calculation of composite scores), 11 for process (eg, access to care, assessments, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments) and one for outcome (effect of treatment on disease activity). They included definitions to be used in clinical practice and also by patients. Further, the numerators and the denominators for each HCQI were defined. CONCLUSIONS: A set of 14 patient-centred HCQIs for RA was developed to be used in quality improvement and bench marking in countries across Europe.
BACKGROUND: Eumusc.net (http://www.eumusc.net) is a European project supported by the EU and European League Against Rheumatism to improve musculoskeletal care in Europe. OBJECTIVE: To develop patient-centred healthcare quality indicators (HCQIs) for healthcare provision for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Based on a systematic literature search, existing HCQIs for RA were identified and their contents analysed and categorised referring to a list of 16 standards of care developed within the eumusc.net. An international expert panel comprising 14 healthcare providers and two patient representatives added topics and during repeated Delphi processes by email ranked the topics and rephrased suggested HCQIs with the preliminary set being established during a second expert group meeting. After an audit process by rheumatology units (including academic centres) in six countries (The Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Italy, Austria and Sweden), a final version of the HCQIs was established. RESULTS: 56 possible topics for HCQIs were processed resulting in a final set of HCQIs for RA (n=14) including two for structure (patient information and calculation of composite scores), 11 for process (eg, access to care, assessments, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments) and one for outcome (effect of treatment on disease activity). They included definitions to be used in clinical practice and also by patients. Further, the numerators and the denominators for each HCQI were defined. CONCLUSIONS: A set of 14 patient-centred HCQIs for RA was developed to be used in quality improvement and bench marking in countries across Europe.
Authors: J Braun; A Krause; M Aringer; G Burmester; F Bessler; J-M Engel; U Faubel; R Fischer-Betz; E Genth; E Gromnica-Ihle; B Hellmich; I Kötter; K Krüger; J Lakomek; H-M Lorenz; B Manger; E Märker-Hermann; K Minden; U Müller-Ladner; J Rautenstrauch; S Rehart; G Riemekasten; M Rudwaleit; W Rüther; G Schett; F Schuch; H Schulze-Koops; C Specker; S Wassenberg; D Wiek; A Zink; M Schneider Journal: Z Rheumatol Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 1.372
Authors: Jordi Gratacós; Jesús Luelmo; Jesús Rodríguez; Jaume Notario; Teresa Navío Marco; Pablo de la Cueva; Manel Pujol Busquets; Mercè García Font; Beatriz Joven; Raquel Rivera; Jose Luis Alvarez Vega; Antonio Javier Chaves Álvarez; Ricardo Sánchez Parera; Jose Carlos Ruiz Carrascosa; Fernando José Rodríguez Martínez; José Pardo Sánchez; Carlos Feced Olmos; Conrad Pujol; Eva Galindez; Silvia Pérez Barrio; Ana Urruticoechea Arana; Mercedes Hergueta; Pablo Coto; Rubén Queiro Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2018-02-07 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Pedro Santos-Moreno; Claudio Galarza-Maldonado; Carlo V Caballero-Uribe; Mario H Cardiel; Loreto Massardo; Enrique R Soriano; José Aguilar Olano; José F Díaz Coto; Gabriel R Durán Pozo; Inês Guimarães da Silveira; Vianna J Khoury de Castrejón; Leticia Lino Pérez; Carlos A Méndez Justo; Rubén A Montufar Guardado; Rafael Muños; Sergio Murillo Elvir; Ernesto R Paredes Domínguez; Bernardo Pons-Estel; Carlos R Ríos Acosta; Sayonara Sandino; Carlos E Toro Gutiérrez; Sol María Villegas de Morales; Carlos Pineda Journal: J Clin Rheumatol Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 3.517