Utilize the modified Delphi technique to develop trauma care indicators.
OBJECTIVE
Develop performance indicators reflecting the quality of trauma-patient-care in the emergency room and hospitalization within the first 48 hours.


METHODS
A two-round Delphi technique was conducted. A panel of 11 expert surgeons experienced in the fields of trauma care was consulted. The panel was initially asked to rate performance indicators that reflected the quality of trauma care given in the emergency department setting and hospitalization in the first 48 hours using a 5-point on visual analogue scale. The statement of indicators that was collected from the first round was analyzed and necessary changes were before resending to the same experts. Each indicator statement was considered consensus if the expert's opinion rating was 4 or 5 for more than 70% (8 out of 11 experts).


RESULTS
Fifty-three performance indicators were proposed in four domains of trauma care in emergency room and four domains of trauma care in hospitalization within 48 hours. Altogether 35 indicators reached consensus reflecting quality of trauma performance after two rounds. Twenty-one of these were trauma care indicators in emergency room and 14 were trauma care indicators in hospitalization within 48 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty-one indicators of quality of trauma care in the emergency room and 14 in the hospitalization within 48 hours have been developed. They will be used as the tool by specialist for quality evaluation in the next phase.
Suwaratchai
Prapaporn
P
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Suwaratchai@yahoo.com
Sithisarankul
Pornchai
P
Sriratanban
Jiruth
J
Chenvidhyamd
Dhiraphol
D
Phonburee
Wimonwan
W
D003697:Delphi Technique; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*