Abstract
Aim: National validation of quality indicators for cardiovascular prevention in primary care in Slovenia and comparison with a set of internationally validated indicators. Methods: A list of indicators derived from guidelines, recommendations and good clinical practice was developed internationally within a wider Epa-cardio study. In each participating country a panel of national experts were recruited to assess the indicators using a Delphi Technique methodology in two rounds for clarity, validity and feasibility. In Slovenia, 14 national experts, all general practitioners with special interest in cardiovascular diseases, were recruited. Results: Most of validated indicators belonged to the health-care management of people with established cardiovascular disease. Fewer numbers of indicators were validated for primary prevention, mostly on life style recording and advice. Only very few indicators on outcome measures (level of risk factors) were validated. No indicators of patients’ involvement or new risk factors, such as socioeconomic circumstances, got consensus. Conclusion: Slovenia validated more indicators than the international study, especially indicators of primary prevention. The experts did not achieve consensus on indicators of patients’ perspective, despite the paradigm of family medicine that the patient is in the centre of care. Validated indicators can now be tested for systematic quality assessment of cardiovascular prevention in the country.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 687-698 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Zdravniski Vestnik: glasilo Slovenskega zdravniskega drustva, Ljubljana |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 81 |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |