Are accreditation surveys reliable?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to test whether healthcare accreditation survey processes are reliable.


METHODS
The study uses multiple methods to document stakeholder experiences and views on accreditation survey reliability. There were 29 research activities, comprising 25 focus groups, three interviews and a survey questionnaire. In total, 193 stakeholders participated; 134 in face-to-face activities and 56 via questionnaire. All were voluntary participants. Using open-ended questioning, stakeholders were asked to reflect upon accreditation survey reliability.


RESULTS
Stakeholders perceived healthcare accreditation surveys to be a reliable activity. They identified six interrelated factors that simultaneously promoted and challenged reliability: the accreditation program, including organisational documentation and surveyor accreditation reports; members' relationship to the accrediting agency and survey team; accreditation agency personnel; surveyor workforce renewal; surveyor workforce management; and survey team conduct including coordinator role. The six factors realised shared expectations and conduct by accreditation stakeholders; that is, they enabled accreditation stakeholder self-governance.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge gained can be used to improve accreditation program reliability, credibility and ongoing self-governance.


CONCLUSIONS
The paper is a unique examination of healthcare accreditation surveys the reliability. The findings have potential application to reliability in other healthcare areas.
Greenfield
David
D
Centre for Clinical Governance Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. d.greenfield@unsw.edu.au
Pawsey
Marjorie
M
Naylor
Justine
J
Braithwaite
Jeffrey
J
D000068:Accreditation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D001315:Australia; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000592:standards*; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results