Assessment of Neonatal Indicators (ANI). Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of neonatal care quality measures using quality frameworks and the use of composite measures for multiple indicators. A qualitative exploration of expert opinion and parental information requirements.
IRAS ID
133821
Contact name
David Field
Contact email
Research summary
In order to achieve best practice in healthcare and to provide the highest level of patient care, points of care are measured and compared to a desirable standard. These standards are frequently known as ‘quality measures’, ‘quality indicators’ or ’benchmarking’.
Quality measures and benchmarking are widely used in all specialties within the NHS, with an increasing focus on experience and outcomes for patients. The use of quality measures is set to grow and will have an impact on services provided, funding and the experience of the patient.
Many medical specialities have investigated which quality indicators should be used for their speciality and have developed frameworks for standardising the structure of quality indicators to help ensure that they are useful and appropriate.
This study aims to look at quality measures for neonatal care in the UK. It aims to evaluate neonatal quality measures using a framework and investigate how multiple neonatal indicators can be combined to give a summary measure. Anonymised data from the Neonatal Survey and the UK Neonatal Collaborative will be used for this.
The study will also investigate expert opinion on which quality measures should be used for neonatal care in the UK. This will be conducted by means of a questionnaire, sent out to neonatal consultants within the UK that have agreed to participate in the study.The experience and outcomes for patients and families are an important issue in neonatal care and an important consideration when evaluating quality indicators. A series of focus groups will explore parental views. A number of focus groups will be held with willing participants until no new themes arise.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/0006
Date of REC Opinion
6 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion