BMC Anesthesiology (07/31/23) Vol. 23, No. 256 Yee, May-Sann; Tarshis, Jordan

A modified Delphi study sought to highlight meaningful anesthesia quality indicators as guidance for Canadian anesthesiologists' self-assessment and continuing quality improvement. The authors identified 28 relevant articles published from 2009 to 2019. Additional information came from a review of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Anesthesia Quality Institute and Wake Up Safe websites and communication with anesthesia quality specialists. The initial study round yielded 132 anesthesia quality indicators. Through three rounds of discussion, an expert panel of anesthesiologists narrowed the list down to 56 items. The panelists then chose the 20 anesthesia quality indicators they deemed to be most meaningful in helping to guide anesthesiologists in the continuous self-assessment and feedback of their practices, including items focused on process, structure and outcome. "While there remain questions regarding how these indicators can be best used, as well as hurdles related to cost of implementation and end-user buy-in, it is recognized that comprehensive practice assessment must be based on more than data collected from an electronic record," the authors noted. They recommended further refinement of indicators whose collection is feasible and most desirable to anesthesiologists.

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