Construction of key quality indicators for aged care facilities in China: A two-tier Delphi study: Key aged care quality indicators in ACF by Delphi method.

Aim: To construct key quality indicators for aged care facilities in China.

Background: Evaluating the care quality in aged care facilities is problematic. Evaluation of nursing care quality is important for improving nursing and self-supervision in aged care facilities. However, a few regulations and studies regarding care quality evaluation have been implemented in China.

Design And Method: This two-tier Delphi study aimed to achieve consensus on key quality indicators for aged care facilities in China. The entry pool was determined by literature review and research team discussion, followed by a discussion by a panel of experts to establish the items of the Delphi study. Finally, key care quality indicators were established through a two-round Delphi study. This study followed the SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines.

Results: The initial 16 quality indicators of the entry pool was developed based on a literature review and a group discussion. Sixteen quality indicators were reduced to eight after the expert discussion. After two rounds of expert consultation, the eight quality indicators became nine, which were then evaluated for importance, formula rationality, and operability using Kendall's harmony coefficients (first round: 0.150, 0.143 and 0.169, respectively; second round: 0.209, 0.159 and 0.173, respectively).

Conclusions: Key quality indicators provide quantifiable evidence for evaluating the care quality in aged care facilities, but their applicability needs continuous improvement.

Relevance To Clinical Practice: Nine key quality indicators were selected from numerous indicators for measuring the care quality in aged care facilities, supporting the evaluation of the care quality and self-supervision for aged care facilities.

Elderly Or Public Contribution: No elderly or public contribution.