Performance indicators for clinical practice management in primary care in Portugal: Consensus from a Delphi study

Figures & data

Table 1. Definitions of the assessment criteria for performance indicators used in Portuguese general practice presented to a Delphi panel of 89 experts (5,8).

Criteria	Definition
Validity	The method proposed by the indicator assessed what the indicator purports to measure
Reliability	The measure of the indicator presents a minimal error and the indicator can be reproduced with the same characteristics and reliability according the different groups being assessed
Sensitivity to change	The indicator is able to detect changes occurring in the quality of the health care it purports to measure
Feasibility	It is possible to gather conditions or conditions have been gathered to apply the indicator efficiently

Figure 1. Conduct of the Delphi survey of performance indicators for practice management.

Table 2. Socio-demographic characteristics of the Portuguese experts taking part in the Delphi survey of performance indicators for primary care management.

	Number	Percentage	Average
Age (years)			50.5 (s.d.8)
Urban	23	85.2%
Rural	4	14.8%
Occupation
Nurse	3	11.1%
Doctor	24	89.9%
Management position in health care	16	59.2%

Table 3. Categories of existing (n= 39) and new (n = 50) performance indicators proposed by Delphi panel for Portuguese primary health care practice management.

	Consensual indicators	Non-consensual	Total number	Per cent consensus
Type of existing indicator (n = 39)
Quantity of clinical and administrative acts	16	8	24 (62%)	66.7%
Acts at home visits	6	1	7 (18%)	85.7%
Practice demographics	6	0	6 (15%)	100%
Availability of service	2	0	2 (5%)	100%
New indicators proposed (n = 50)
Quantity of clinical and administrative acts	19	5	24 (48%)	79.2%
Acts at home visits	2	10	12 (24%)	16.6%
Practice demographics	4	0	4 (8%)	100%
Availability of service	1	2	3 (6%)	33.3%
Assessment and control of professionals	2	0	2 (4%)	100%
Satisfaction of patients and professionals	2	0	2 (4%)	100%
Waiting time	2	0	2 (4%)	100%
Costs	0	1	1 (2%)	0%

Table 4. Average score (out of ten) for characteristics of performance indicators given to new and proposed indicators of primary care management by members of the Delphi panel.

	n	Validity	Reliability	Sensitivity to change	Feasibility	Average
Existing indicators	39	8.1	7.8	7.6	7.9	7.9
Proposed indicators	50	7.9	7.6	7.5	7.5	7.6
Total	89	8	7.7	7.6	7.7	7.7

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