Protocol for a Delphi consensus study to select indicators of high-quality general practice to achieve Quality Equity and Systems Transformation in Primary Health Care (QUEST-PHC) in Australia

Phyllis Lau; Samantha Ryan; Penelope Abbott; Kathy Tannous; Steven Trankle; Kath Peters; Andrew Page; Natalie Cochrane; Tim Usherwood; Jennifer Reath

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0268096

Protocol for a Delphi consensus study to select indicators of high-quality general practice to achieve Quality Equity and Systems Transformation in Primary Health Care (QUEST-PHC) in Australia

PLoS One. 2022 May 24;17(5):e0268096. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268096. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Phyllis Lau^{1

2}, Samantha Ryan^{1

2}, Penelope Abbott^{1

2}, Kathy Tannous^{2

3}, Steven Trankle^{1

2}, Kath Peters^{2

4}, Andrew Page², Natalie Cochrane^{1

2}, Tim Usherwood^{5

6}, Jennifer Reath^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ School of Business, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁶ George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Background: High-quality general practice has been demonstrated to provide cost-effective, equitable health care and improve health outcomes. Yet there is currently not a set of agreed comprehensive indicators in Australia. We have developed 79 evidence-based indicators and their corresponding 129 measures of high-quality general practice. This study aims to achieve consensus on relevant and feasible indicators and measures for the Australian context.

Methods: This Delphi consensus study, approved by WSU Human Research Ethics Committee, consists of three rounds of online survey with general practice experts including general practitioners, practice nurses and primary health network staff. The identified indicators and measures are grouped under an attribute framework aligned with the Quadruple Aim, and further grouped under structures, processes and outcomes according to the Donabedian framework. Participants will rate each indicator and measure for relevance and feasibility, and provide comments and recommendations of additional indicators or measures. In the last round, participants will also be asked their views on the implementation of a quality indicator tool. Each indicator and measure will require ≥70% agreement in both relevance and feasibility to achieve consensus. Aggregated ratings will be statistically analysed for response rates, level of agreement, medians, interquartile ranges and group rankings. Qualitative responses will be analysed thematically using a mixed inductive and deductive approach.

Discussion: This protocol will add to the current knowledge of the translation of performance guidelines into quality practice across complex clinical settings and in a variety of different contexts in Australian general practice. The Delphi technique is appropriate to develop consensus between the diverse experts because of its ability to offer anonymity to other participants and minimise bias. Findings will contribute to the design of an assessment tool of high-quality general practice that would enable future primary health care reforms in Australia.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Consensus
Delphi Technique
General Practice*
Humans
Primary Health Care
Quality Indicators, Health Care

Grants and funding

This study is funded by the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre https://www.digitalhealthcrc.com/. The funding body is part of the Project Control Group which oversees the conduct of the study, including the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and the writing of the manuscript.