Design and validation of quality indicators for drug dispensing in a pediatric hospital

Objectives: This article presents a methodological strategy to design and validate quality indicators for drug dispensing in a pediatric hospital.

Setting: The literature evaluation, design, and validation of indicators by experts were carried out from September 2017 to March 2018 in the pharmaceutical services of a pediatric hospital at the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico.

Practice description: The design and validation of quality indicators for dispensing allow the evaluation, planning, and follow-up of this activity.

Practice innovation: The development of the indicators follows a holistic vision considering the relationship between the structure on which the pediatric dispensation is based, the involved processes, and the outcomes and provide a simple tool to improve the quality of the dispensing service.

Evaluation: A methodological investigation for the development of systems and health services in drug dispensing was performed. For the indicator's design, the Mexican standards for establishments dedicated to the sale and supply of drugs, the Good Dispensation Practices, and the Donabedian model were considered. The validation of such indicators was carried out using the Delphi method and the Torgerson mathematical model.

Results: Indicators of structure, process, and results were designed; of the 16 indicators designed, 15 reached the average score of greater than 3.5, and the percentage of experts who qualified each indicator in the highest categories was greater than 50%.

Conclusion: The design of indicators guarantees the quality of the dispensing service and can be extrapolated to the pharmaceutical services of any pediatric hospital.