The quality circle: how to improve the outcome of paediatric diabetes care.
Most multicentre studies demonstrate that the outcome of diabetes therapy falls below the targets set up in recent guidelines. Applying quality control methodology may provide one means better to achieve such targets. Before setting up a quality circle, objective, standardized documentation of relevant quality indicators is necessary. Based on internal (for example longitudinal changes over time) and external quality control (comparison with other institutions), both favourable and unfavourable results achieved by each institution are identified. Such data provide the basis for intensive discussion among the members of diabetes care teams on how to remedy such deficits. In Germany, the working group on paediatric diabetology set up a system for external quality assessment in 1995: For 6 continuous years, quality indicators are compared twice yearly, and regional quality circles for more open discussions have been established, in addition to yearly nationwide meetings among all participants.
Holl
Reinhard W
RW
University of Ulm, Germany. reinhard.holl@zibmt.uni-ulm.de
Grabert
Matthias
M
D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008332:Management Quality Circles; D011787:Quality of Health Care