Developing sensitive quality indicators for ground inter-hospital transport of adult critically ill patients using Donabedian model

Background: The complexity of inter-hospital transport (IHT) for critically ill patients poses challenges to quality evaluation. Currently, sensitive quality indicators for the entire process of IHT remain lacking. The objective of this study is to develop a set of standardized and quantifiable quality evaluation indicators for land-based IHT of adult critically ill patients. Methods: Based on the structure-process-outcome three-dimensional model, we developed the first-round Delphi questionnaire through literature review, semi-structured interviews, and research group discussions. We invited nursing, medical, and administrative experts in emergency medicine, critical care, and IHT from various institutions to participate in two rounds of Delphi consultation, and established the quality evaluation indicator system for IHT. The indicator weights were determined using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Results: < 0.001). Through this expert consultation process, a finalized quality indicator system was established, comprising 3 first-level indicators, 10 s-level indicators, and 22 third-level indicators. Conclusion: The sensitive quality indicators for land-based IHT of adult critically ill patients developed in this study enable comprehensive quality monitoring of the entire transfer process through the dimensions of structure, process, and outcome. Those quality indicators provide a basis for objectively evaluating the quality of IHT, identifying weaknesses in transport practice, and improving transport quality.