Feasibility of 48 quality indicators in ambulatory care in Germany: a cross-sectional observational study.

Background: The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians develops quality indicators (QIs) for ambulatory care in Germany. This study explores the feasibility of a total of 48 QIs.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study with primary data collection in writing from medical practices in 10 specialist fields of outpatient care.

[AQUIK®: starter set of ambulatory quality indicators developed by the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians].

Aim: Development of a starter set of quality indicators for application by general practitioners and specialists in the outpatient care sector.

Methodology: The results of a systematic search for national and international quality indicators relevant to the outpatient care sector in Germany provided the basis for the indicator selection process. Outpatient care doctors rated the relevance and feasibility of the indicators according to the RAND/UCLA method.

[Method report 2007 of the Programme for National Disease Management Guidelines--background and content].

The Programme for National Disease Management Guidelines (German DM-CPG Programme) was established in 2002 by the German Medical Association (umbrella organisation of the German Chambers of Physicians) and joined by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF)--umbrella organisation of more than 150 professional societies--and by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (NASHIP) in 2003. The programme provides a conceptual basis for disease management, focussing on high priority healthcare topics and aiming at the implementation of best practice recommendations for prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and chronic care. It is organised by the German Agency for Quality in Medicine, a founding member of the Guidelines International Network G-I-N.