Development of quality indicators for colorectal cancer surgery, using a 3-step modified Delphi approach.
BACKGROUND
Little performance measurement has been undertaken in the area of oncology, particularly for surgery, which is a pivotal event in the continuum of cancer care. This work was conducted to develop indicators of quality for colorectal cancer surgery, using a 3-step modified Delphi approach.


METHODS
A multidisciplinary panel, comprising surgical and methodological co-chairs, 9 surgeons, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a nurse and a pathologist, reviewed potential indicators extracted from the medical literature through 2 consecutive rounds of rating followed by consensus discussion. The panel then prioritized the indicators selected in the previous 2 rounds.


RESULTS
Of 45 possible indicators that emerged from 30 selected articles, 15 were prioritized by the panel as benchmarks for assessing the quality of surgical care. The 15 indicators represent 3 levels of measurement (provincial/regional, hospital, individual provider) across several phases of care (diagnosis, surgery, adjuvant therapy, pathology and follow-up), as well as broad measures of access and outcome. The indicators selected by the panel were more often supported by evidence than those that were discarded.


CONCLUSIONS
This project represents a unique initiative, and the results may be applicable to colorectal cancer surgery in any jurisdiction.
Gagliardi
Anna R
AR
Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto.
Simunovic
Marko
M
Langer
Bernard
B
Stern
Hartley
H
Brown
Adalsteinn D
AD
D019985:Benchmarking; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000592:standards*; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity