title: "Best practice" in inflammatory bowel disease: an international survey and audit.
abstract: Background: An observational study was conducted at eight university and four district hospitals in eight countries collaborating in clinical and epidemiological research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to compare European health care facilities and to define current "best practice" with regard to IBD. Methods: The approach used in this multi-national survey was unique. Existing quality norms, developed for total hospital care by a specialized organization, were restricted to IBD-specific care and adapted to the frame of reference of the study group. In each center, these norms were surveyed by means of questionnaires and professional audits in all participating centers. The collected data were reported to the center, compared to data from other hospitals, and used to benchmark. Group consensus was reached with regard to defining current "best practice". Results: The observations in each center involved patient-oriented processes, technical and patient safety, and quality of the medical standard. Several findings could be directly implemented to improve IBD care in another hospital (benchmarks). These included a confidential relationship between health care worker(s) and patients, and availability of patient data. Conclusions: The observed benchmarks, in combination with other subjectively chosen "positive" procedures, have been defined as current "best practice in IBD", representing practical guidelines towards better quality of care in IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Maastricht, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van Der Eijk
authors.forename: Frank W.
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Verheggen
authors.forename: Maurice G.
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katsanos
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Munkholm
authors.forename: Ingemar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Engdahl
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Selwyn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odes
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fossen
authors.forename: Reinhold W.
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stockbrügger