Moving towards a core measures set for patient safety in perioperative care: An e-Delphi consensus study

A Core Measures Set (CMS) is an agreed standardized group of measures that should be assessed and reported in research for a specific condition or clinical area. This study undertook the development of a CMS for Patient Safety through a two-round, web-based Delphi consensus approach, in the context of the “Improving quality and patient SAFEty in surgical care through STandardisation and harmonization of perioperative care in Europe” (SAFEST) project—a collaborative, patient-centered and evidence-based European Union-funded project that aims to generate action-oriented evidence in perioperative care. We developed an Initial List of Measures via an umbrella review following the deployment of an e-Delphi method with an inclusive panel of experts to prioritize measures towards a consensualized Final List of Measures. All measures were rigorously assessed for both importance and feasibility. After the two rounds of the e-Delphi consensus method we observed 13 preoperative measures (40.6% of the initial number), 24 intraoperative measures (66.7%), 25 postoperative measures (20.3%) and 23 mixed period measures (41.1%) met consensus criteria for both importance and feasibility. Higher scores were detected in importance ratings compared to feasibility across all groups of measures. Importantly, numeric averages regarding pain-related measures differed in the assessment of patients when compared to that of Healthcare Professionals (HCPs). This work not only informs future SAFEST iterations but also sets a precedent for research into valid, patient-centered, and action-oriented perioperative safety measures.

Contributors

J. P. Dinis-Teixeira, Claudia Valli, Ana Beatriz Nunes, Andreia Leite, Willemijn L. A. Schafer, Ismael Martinez-Nicolas, Ayshe Seyfulayeva, Pedro Casaca Carvalho, Carola Orrego, Anna Rodriguez, Daniel Arnal-Velasco, Irene Leon, Paulo Sousa

Publication

Journal: PLoS ONE
Volume: 19
Issue: 10
Pages: -
Year: 2024
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311896

Further Study Information

Current Stage: Completed
Date:
Funding source(s): The work underlying this manuscript is encompassed in the European project SAFEST (Improving quality and patient SAFEty in surgical care through STandardisation and harmonisation of perioperative care in Europe). This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101057825. Link: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101057825 The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Health Area

Disease Category: Public health

Disease Name: Perioperative medicine

Target Population

Age Range: 18 - 120

Sex: Either

Nature of Intervention: Surgery

Stakeholders Involved

- Clinical experts
- Consumers (patients)
- Governmental agencies
- Guideline developers
- Methodologists
- Patient/ support group representatives
- Policy makers
- Private sector representatives
- Regulatory agency representatives

Study Type

- COS methods research

Method(s)

- Delphi process
- Systematic review

1) Initially, a comprehensive list of measures for patient safety in perioperative care among
surgical adult patients was created. This was mainly accomplished through an umbrella review
of measures.
2) Secondly, a group of healthcare professionals and patients’ representatives was
assembled in order to prioritize these measures using a two-round e-Delphi method.

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