Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departments
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rigorous evaluation of an intervention requires that its allocation be unbiased with respect to confounders; this is especially difficult in complex, system-wide healthcare interventions. We developed a short survey instrument to ide...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2009-06-01
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| Series: | Implementation Science |
| Online Access: | http://www.implementationscience.com/content/4/1/32 |
| _version_ | 1811278589564289024 |
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| author | Anderson Geoff Rowe Brian H Zwarenstein Merrick Guttmann Astrid Leaver Chad Stukel Therese Golden Brian Bell Robert Morra Dante Abrams Howard Schull Michael J |
| author_facet | Anderson Geoff Rowe Brian H Zwarenstein Merrick Guttmann Astrid Leaver Chad Stukel Therese Golden Brian Bell Robert Morra Dante Abrams Howard Schull Michael J |
| author_sort | Anderson Geoff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rigorous evaluation of an intervention requires that its allocation be unbiased with respect to confounders; this is especially difficult in complex, system-wide healthcare interventions. We developed a short survey instrument to identify factors for a minimization algorithm for the allocation of a hospital-level intervention to reduce emergency department (ED) waiting times in Ontario, Canada.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Potential confounders influencing the intervention's success were identified by literature review, and grouped by healthcare setting specific change stages. An international multi-disciplinary (clinical, administrative, decision maker, management) panel evaluated these factors in a two-stage modified-delphi and nominal group process based on four domains: change readiness, evidence base, face validity, and clarity of definition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An original set of 33 factors were identified from the literature. The panel reduced the list to 12 in the first round survey. In the second survey, experts scored each factor according to the four domains; summary scores and consensus discussion resulted in the final selection and measurement of four hospital-level factors to be used in the minimization algorithm: improved patient flow as a hospital's leadership priority; physicians' receptiveness to organizational change; efficiency of bed management; and physician incentives supporting the change goal.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We developed a simple tool designed to gather data from senior hospital administrators on factors likely to affect the success of a hospital patient flow improvement intervention. A minimization algorithm will ensure balanced allocation of the intervention with respect to these factors in study hospitals.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:38:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17c354be1ac344418dba8192ad093503 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-5908 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:38:36Z |
| publishDate | 2009-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Implementation Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-17c354be1ac344418dba8192ad0935032022-12-22T03:10:16ZengBMCImplementation Science1748-59082009-06-01413210.1186/1748-5908-4-32Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departmentsAnderson GeoffRowe Brian HZwarenstein MerrickGuttmann AstridLeaver ChadStukel ThereseGolden BrianBell RobertMorra DanteAbrams HowardSchull Michael J<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rigorous evaluation of an intervention requires that its allocation be unbiased with respect to confounders; this is especially difficult in complex, system-wide healthcare interventions. We developed a short survey instrument to identify factors for a minimization algorithm for the allocation of a hospital-level intervention to reduce emergency department (ED) waiting times in Ontario, Canada.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Potential confounders influencing the intervention's success were identified by literature review, and grouped by healthcare setting specific change stages. An international multi-disciplinary (clinical, administrative, decision maker, management) panel evaluated these factors in a two-stage modified-delphi and nominal group process based on four domains: change readiness, evidence base, face validity, and clarity of definition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An original set of 33 factors were identified from the literature. The panel reduced the list to 12 in the first round survey. In the second survey, experts scored each factor according to the four domains; summary scores and consensus discussion resulted in the final selection and measurement of four hospital-level factors to be used in the minimization algorithm: improved patient flow as a hospital's leadership priority; physicians' receptiveness to organizational change; efficiency of bed management; and physician incentives supporting the change goal.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We developed a simple tool designed to gather data from senior hospital administrators on factors likely to affect the success of a hospital patient flow improvement intervention. A minimization algorithm will ensure balanced allocation of the intervention with respect to these factors in study hospitals.</p>http://www.implementationscience.com/content/4/1/32 |
| spellingShingle | Anderson Geoff Rowe Brian H Zwarenstein Merrick Guttmann Astrid Leaver Chad Stukel Therese Golden Brian Bell Robert Morra Dante Abrams Howard Schull Michael J Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departments Implementation Science |
| title | Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departments |
| title_full | Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departments |
| title_fullStr | Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departments |
| title_short | Development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital-level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in Ontario emergency departments |
| title_sort | development of a minimization instrument for allocation of a hospital level performance improvement intervention to reduce waiting times in ontario emergency departments |
| url | http://www.implementationscience.com/content/4/1/32 |
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