title: Designing a method to assess and improve the quality of healthcare in Nephrology by means of the Delphi technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Free choice is not easy when there is a lack of information. Methods for evaluating quality of care to provide patients with comprehensive and understandable information on hospital departments are therefore necessary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To draft a methodological proposal for evaluating quality of care of hospital departments, the data of which can provide citizens with useful care quality information. The proposal should be based on consensus and on the experience of medical specialists, defining thus complementary paths to improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Delphi study on the quality of care in Nephrology, comprising three phases: assessment results, necessary means for quality, and importance of medical advice and surveys among specialists. The questionnaire was administered to a panel of 32 nephrologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nephrologists accepted the outcome criteria on quality of care 55/62 (89%), as well as the proposed means for quality of care 87/92 (95%). 81% of the nephrologists reported the validity and topicality of providing patients with specialist advice as to the most adequate department to better treat their kidney diseases. 86% of the panellists deemed appropriate to include surveys on medical advice as additional criteria for the evaluation of quality of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to obtain a consensus-based methodological proposal for the evaluation and improvement of quality of care which includes results on quality of care, means for quality of care, and medical advice based on surveys carried out among specialists to identify the best Nephrology departments. This method could provide reliable and understandable guidance for citizens.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arce
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hernando
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Milagros
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robles
mesh_terms: D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009398:Nephrology / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires