Knowledge-based quality management and clinical pathways.
OBJECTIVE
Although 65% of the hospitals in Taiwan claim to be applying the clinical pathway concept, most hospitals do not implement this concept effectively. The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons for the improper or inappropriate application of the clinical pathway design in hospitals.


METHODS
This study differs from other studies in clinical pathway design and application in that it seeks to resolve misunderstandings of the clinical pathway analysis that may have been generated by the responses to survey questionnaires. Therefore, in-depth interviews and Senge's system archetype have been used to ascertain the reasons why the use of a clinical pathway design has been ineffective. We also used the 4 dimensions of knowledge-based management proposed by Drucker to set up the knowledge-based clinical pathway. Thirteen experts used the Delphi method to construct 20 knowledge-based clinical pathway guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of knowledge- and management-based clinical pathway designs is recommended.
Chang
Chun-Lang
CL
Department of Industrial Management, National Formosa University, Yunlin, Taiwan, Republic of China. jcchang@nfu.edu.tw
Cheng
Bor-Wen
BW
Luo
Chih-Min
CM
D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013624:Taiwan