[The selection of the indicators for a quality control policy in parenteral nutrition starting from clinical follow-up].
BACKGROUND
the concept of quality is basic to any type of clinical/care activity and with parenteral nutrition (NP), the notion is of particular significance in the field of its clinical monitoring. The aim of this paper is to reveal the NP care level based on our experience in clinical monitoring in 1988, and to select the indicators to be evaluated for initiating NP quality control.


METHODS
An analysis is made of the existing structure in our hospital, formed by the NP Unit and the NP and Enteral Nutrition Commission, which are subject to a policy of coordination in order to ensure their function. The process is divided into two aspects for the analysis - teaching and care. The clinical monitoring data of NP patients in 1988 were taken as reference in defining the indicators.


RESULTS
The indices are presented which were obtained from the analysis of the data of a general nature, from an assessment of the degree of compliance with the procedure, and from the quantification of complications and the indicators elected as quality parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the clinical monitoring of the PN began with the general wish to evaluate different aspects associated with nutritional therapy, this focus later evolved toward the notion of quality. Not all the data gathered during the clinical monitoring can be taken as quality criteria: only those deemed to be more relevant, or of greater clinical significance, and which can be reliably measured, can be treated thus.
Llop Talaverón
J M
JM
Unidad de Nutrición Parenteral, Ciudad Sanitaria de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
Badía Tahull
M B
MB
Tubau Molas
M
M
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011786:Quality Control; D013030:Spain