Key Points
Question What are valid quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) that could measure, improve, and optimize quality of care and outcomes?
Findings In this quality improvement study, 18 QIs for the diagnosis and management of pHPT were proposed. Through ranking by a 9-member expert panel of 3 endocrinologists, 3 otolaryngologists, and 3 endocrine surgeons, the top 5 QIs applicable to physicians commonly treating pHPT were chosen.
Meaning Quality indicators assess quality of care to guide the process of improvement and can assess the implementation of evidence-based guideline recommendations; using QIs in clinical practice and registries can improve quality and cost-effectiveness of care for patients with pHPT.
Importance Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is a common endocrine disorder with many diagnostic and treatment challenges. Despite high-quality guidelines, care is variable, and there is low adherence to evidence-based treatment pathways.
Objective To develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of pHPT that could measure, improve, and optimize quality of care and outcomes for patients with this disease.
Design, Setting, and Participants This quality improvement study used a guideline-based approach to develop QIs that were ranked by a Canadian 9-member expert panel of 3 endocrinologists, 3 otolaryngologists, and 3 endocrine surgeons. Data were analyzed between September 2020 and May 2021.
Main Outcomes and Measures Candidate indicators (CIs) were extracted from published primary hyperparathyroidism guidelines and summarized with supporting evidence. The 9-member expert panel rated each CI on the validity, reliability, and feasibility of measurement. Final QIs were selected from CIs using the modified RAND–University of California, Los Angeles appropriateness methodology. All panelists were then asked to rank the top 5 QIs for primary, endocrine, and surgical care.
Results Forty QIs were identified and evaluated by the expert panel. After 2 rounds of evaluations and discussion, a total of 18 QIs were selected as appropriate measures of high-quality care. The top 5 QIs for primary, endocrine, and surgical care were selected following panelist rankings.
Conclusions and Relevance This quality improvement study proposes 18 QIs for the diagnosis and management of pHPT. Furthermore, the top 5 QIs applicable to physicians commonly treating pHPT, including general physicians, internists, endocrinologists, otolaryngologists, and surgeons, are included. These QIs not only assess the quality of care to guide the process of improvement, but also can assess the implementation of evidence-based guideline recommendations. Using these indicators in clinical practice and health system registries can improve quality and cost-effectiveness of care for patients with pHPT.
