TY - JOUR

T1 - Quality indicators for collaborative care networks in persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders

T2 - a modified delphi study

AU - Mamo, Nick

AU - Tak, Lineke M

AU - van de Klundert, Manouk A W

AU - Olde Hartman, Tim C

AU - Rosmalen, Judith G M

AU - Hanssen, Denise J C

N1 - © 2024. The Author(s).

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - BACKGROUND: Care for persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders (PSS/FD) is often fragmented. Collaborative care networks (CCNs) may improve care quality for PSS/FD. Effectiveness likely depends on their functioning, but we lack a straightforward quality evaluation system. We therefore aimed to develop quality indicators to evaluate CCNs for PSS/FD.METHOD: Using an online three-round modified Delphi process, an expert panel provided, selected and ranked quality indicators for CCNs in PSS/FD. Recruited experts were diverse healthcare professionals with relevant experience in PSS/FD care in the Netherlands.RESULTS: The expert panel consisted of 86 professionals representing 15 disciplines, most commonly physiotherapists, psychologists and medical specialists. 58% had more than 10 years experience in PSS/FD care. Round one resulted in 994 quotations, which resulted in 46 unique quality indicators. These were prioritised in round two and ranked in round three by the panel, resulting in a final top ten. The top three indicators were: "shared vision of care for PSS/FD", "pathways tailored to the individual patient", and "sufficiently-experienced caregivers for PSS/FD".CONCLUSIONS: The identified quality indicators to evaluate CCNs in the field of PSS/FD can be implemented in clinical practice and may be useful in improving services and when assessing effectiveness.

AB - BACKGROUND: Care for persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders (PSS/FD) is often fragmented. Collaborative care networks (CCNs) may improve care quality for PSS/FD. Effectiveness likely depends on their functioning, but we lack a straightforward quality evaluation system. We therefore aimed to develop quality indicators to evaluate CCNs for PSS/FD.METHOD: Using an online three-round modified Delphi process, an expert panel provided, selected and ranked quality indicators for CCNs in PSS/FD. Recruited experts were diverse healthcare professionals with relevant experience in PSS/FD care in the Netherlands.RESULTS: The expert panel consisted of 86 professionals representing 15 disciplines, most commonly physiotherapists, psychologists and medical specialists. 58% had more than 10 years experience in PSS/FD care. Round one resulted in 994 quotations, which resulted in 46 unique quality indicators. These were prioritised in round two and ranked in round three by the panel, resulting in a final top ten. The top three indicators were: "shared vision of care for PSS/FD", "pathways tailored to the individual patient", and "sufficiently-experienced caregivers for PSS/FD".CONCLUSIONS: The identified quality indicators to evaluate CCNs in the field of PSS/FD can be implemented in clinical practice and may be useful in improving services and when assessing effectiveness.

KW - Humans

KW - Quality Indicators, Health Care

KW - Delphi Technique

KW - Medically Unexplained Symptoms

KW - Netherlands

KW - Physical Therapists

U2 - 10.1186/s12913-024-10589-w

DO - 10.1186/s12913-024-10589-w

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38383395

VL - 24

JO - BMC Health Services Research

JF - BMC Health Services Research

SN - 1472-6963

IS - 1

M1 - 225

ER -