Intrapartum care quality indicators: a systematic approach for achieving consensus.
OBJECTIVE
To identify published maternity intrapartum quality indicators and rationalise them to a core set.


METHODS
Prospective qualitative consensus group exercise. A literature search identified sets of intrapartum quality indicators in the English language. These were rationalised to a shortlist using criteria adapted from 'The Good Clinical Indicator Guide'. An expert panel from key UK professions and organisations utilised a modified Delphi process to devise a final agreed set of intrapartum quality indicators that are specific, measurable, modifiable and relevant to clinical practice. Each indicator was rated in two rounds of web-based surveys, followed by a final face-to-face meeting of the panel.


RESULTS
290 clinical indicators were identified within 96 clinical categories with up to 18 different definitions. After rationalisation, 10 core and 24 additional quality indicators entered the Delphi process. A final panel of 12 indicators was defined.


CONCLUSIONS
By using a simple Delphi process we have defined a set of broad clinical quality indicators that provide a comprehensive coverage of labour and delivery outcomes. We believe that this pragmatic portfolio will be useful for many wishing to develop performance monitoring and maternity dashboard systems.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hutt Hospital, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand.
Thabani
T
Sibanda
Robert
R
Fox
Timothy J
TJ
Draycott
Tahir
T
Mahmood
David
D
Richmond
Rebecca A
RA
Simms
D032921:Consensus; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D058725:Peripartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care