Validation of surgical care quality indicators in the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Objective: To validate a set of indicators for monitoring the quality of surgical procedures in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).

Methods: Validation study developed in 5 stages: 1) literature review; 2) prioritization of indicators; 3) content validation of indicators by RAND/UCLA consensus method; 4) pilot study for reliability analysis; and 5) development of instruction for tabulation of outcome indicators for monitoring via official information systems.

Results: From the literature review, 217 indicators of surgical quality were identified.