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. 2023 May;149(5):1703-1715.
doi: 10.1007/s00432-022-04060-8. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Quality assurance and improvement in oncology using guideline-derived quality indicators - results of gynaecological cancer centres certified by the German cancer society (DKG)

E Griesshammer  1   2 , S Wesselmann  3 , M W Beckmann  4 , C Dannecker  5 , U Wagner  6 , N T Sibert  3 , R Armbrust  7 , J Sehouli  7
Affiliations

Quality assurance and improvement in oncology using guideline-derived quality indicators - results of gynaecological cancer centres certified by the German cancer society (DKG)

E Griesshammer et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023 May.

Abstract

Purpose: Based on the example of Gynaecological Cancer Centres (GCCs) certified by the German Cancer Society, this study evaluates the results of medical-guideline-derived quality indicators (QIs) for cervical cancer (CC) and ovarian cancer (OC), examines the development of indicator implementation over time as well as the status of guideline-compliant care and identifies improvement measures.

Methods: QI results for patients with CC and OC treated in GCCs between 2015 and 2019 are analysed. The median, overall proportion and standard deviation of each QI were calculated. Two-sided Cochran-Armitage tests were applied.

Results: QIs are divided into two categories: process-organization (PO-QIs) and treatment-procedures (TP-QIs), to allow a differentiated analysis for identifying improvement measures. PO-QIs that reflect the implementation of processes and structures show a high degree of application. PO-QIs have a tremendous influence on the quality of care and are easy to implement through SOPs. TP-QIs report on treatments that are performed in the GCC. TP-QIs that report on systemic therapies reach a plateau where the guideline is known, but patient-related-factors meaningfully prevent further increase. TP-QIs that report on surgical interventions fluctuate. The most relevant factors are practitioners' personal skills. Besides the discussion of results amongst peers during the audit, improvement measures could include surgical courses or coaching.

Conclusion: The analysis shows that a combination of different measures is necessary to anchor quality sustainably in health care and thus improve it.

Keywords: Certification; Health service research; Quality assurance; Quality indicators.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Means of overall standard deviations of centres annual quotas for QIs evaluated between 2014 and 2019
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Means of overall standard deviations of centres annual quotas for QIs evaluated between 2014 and 2019
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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