Researchers developed a three-dimensional evaluation index system to measure outpatient healthcare quality in stomatological hospitals in China. The system is based on the structure-process-outcome model and was created through a systematic review and expert consultation.
The final index system includes 3 first-level indicators (structural quality, process quality, outcome quality), 16 second-level indicators, and 77 third-level indicators. Among the first-level indicators, process quality was weighted highest (0.340), followed by outcome quality (0.333) and structural quality (0.328). The highest-weighted third-level indicator was outpatient medical record writing qualification rate (weight 0.044).
Expert coordination improved from the first to the second round of consultation, with coefficients rising from 0.209 to 0.365 (p < 0.05), indicating growing consensus. No safety concerns or patient outcomes were reported.
This is a methodological development study, not a clinical trial. The index system provides a framework for evaluating care quality but does not directly measure patient outcomes or clinical effectiveness. Readers should view this as a step toward standardizing quality assessment, not as evidence of improved care.