title: Development of health equity indicators in primary health care organizations using a modified Delphi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop a core set of indicators that could be used for measuring and monitoring the performance of primary health care organizations' capacity and strategies for enhancing equity-oriented care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indicators were constructed based on a review of the literature and a thematic analysis of interview data with patients and staff (n = 114) using procedures for qualitatively derived data. We used a modified Delphi process where the indicators were circulated to staff at the Health Centers who served as participants (n = 63) over two rounds. Indicators were considered part of a priority set of health equity indicators if they received an overall importance rating of>8.0, on a scale of 1-9, where a higher score meant more importance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen indicators make up the priority set. Items were eliminated because they were rated as low importance (<8.0) in both rounds and were either redundant or more than one participant commented that taking action on the indicator was highly unlikely. In order to achieve health care equity, performance at the organizational level is as important as assessing the performance of staff. Two of the highest rated "treatment" or processes of care indicators reflects the need for culturally safe and trauma and violence-informed care. There are four indicators that can be used to measure outcomes which can be directly attributable to equity responsive primary health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These indicators and subsequent development of items can be used to measure equity in the domains of treatment and outcomes. These areas represent targets for higher performance in relation to equity for organizations (e.g., funding allocations to ongoing training in equity-oriented care provision) and providers (e.g., reflexive practice, skill in working with the health effects of trauma).
authors.affiliation: Critical Research in Health and Healthcare Inequities Unit, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Sabrina T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Critical Research in Health and Healthcare Inequities Unit, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Annette J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: Critical Research in Health and Healthcare Inequities Unit, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Varcoe
authors.affiliation: Manitoba First Nations Centre for Aboriginal Health Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.affiliation: Critical Research in Health and Healthcare Inequities Unit, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Alycia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fridkin
authors.affiliation: Critical Research in Health and Healthcare Inequities Unit, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smye
authors.affiliation: Prince George Division of Family Practice, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Olive
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D000069576:Health Equity / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*