Evaluation of Quality of Care and Guideline-Compliant Treatment in Psoriasis

Vol. 219, No. 1, 2009

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 177 KB)

Original Paper

Evaluation of Quality of Care and Guideline-Compliant Treatment in Psoriasis
Development of a New System of Quality Indicators
M.A. Radtke^a, K. Reich^b, C. Blome^a, I. Kopp^c, S.J. Rustenbach^a, I. Schäfer^a, M. Augustin^a

^aGerman Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology (CVderm), Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, and
^bDermatologikum Hamburg, Hamburg;
^cAWMF (German Board of Scientific and Medical Societies), Department of Surgery, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Dermatology 2009;219:54-58 (DOI: 10.1159/000218161)

Key Words

Skin diseases
Psoriasis
Quality of care
Quality indicators
Guidelines

Abstract

Background: To date, no standardised indicators for quality of care in psoriasis have been published. Aims: Development and testing of evidence-based indicators of quality of care and guideline compliance in the treatment of psoriasis. Methods: Indicators of process and outcome quality were extracted and evaluated in a Delphi process according to international standards. The primary reference was the S3 German guideline for psoriasis treatment. The indicators were validated with data from two nationwide studies on psoriasis care involving 1,511 and 2,009 patients. Results: Eight quality indicators were defined: mean PASI, mean quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index; DLQI), proportion of patients with PASI >20, with DLQI >10, with previous systemic treatment, with PASI >20 and systemic treatment, with inpatient treatment, and number of work days lost. All indicators proved suitable for application, and were sensitive to change. Conclusions: Guideline-based indicators of quality of care are useful in the analysis of health care and the implementation of treatment guidelines in psoriasis.

Author Contacts

Dr. med. Marc Alexander Radtke
Health Economics and Quality of Life Research Group, Department of Dermatology
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52
DE–20246 Hamburg (Germany)
Tel. +49 40 428035428, Fax +49 40 428035348, E-Mail m.radtke@uke.uni-hamburg.de

Article Information

Received: December 9, 2008
Accepted: February 27, 2009
Published online: May 7, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 30

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