THURSDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Newly identified process-based quality indicators may improve care for patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer, according to a report published in the Nov.15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Marcia L. McGory, M.D., of the University of California Los Angeles, and colleagues updated and extended the National Cancer Institute-sponsored guidelines released in 2000. They used a modification of the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Methodology, interviewed leading specialists and reviewed the literature to identify candidate quality-of-care measures.
The researchers identified 142 candidate indicators of quality care in the areas of surgical credentials, preoperative evaluation, patient-provider communications, medication use, intraoperative care and postoperative management. An expert panel of 14 colorectal surgeons, general surgeons and surgical oncologists rated 92 of these indicators as valid.
"These indicators identify potentially meaningful and important steps for providing high-quality cancer care among health care systems, hospitals and providers offering surgical care to patients with colorectal cancer," the authors write.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
