@article {220914, title = {Region-specific macroindicators on palliative care development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Delphi study}, journal = {East Mediterr Health J}, volume = {28}, year = {2022}, note = {

n/a

}, pages = {560-568}, abstract = {

Background: The World Health Organization Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), and a recently created palliative care experts{\textquoteright} network from the EMR, decided to develop region-specific indicators to monitor national palliative care development.

Aims: To identify relevant and feasible macroindicators of palliative care development for the EMR.

Methods: Palliative care experts from the EMR were nominated and invited to complete a 2-round Delphi study to rate macroindicators from previous studies and propose new ones based on regional characteristics. All indicators were assessed by regional relevance (R) and feasibility (F). A content validity index (CVI) was calculated. Indicators with CVI >= 0.7/1, and scoring >= 7/9 for the average of R and F were selected.

Results: Twelve of 22 countries were represented in the study. In the first round, 11 indicators were selected and 13 new ones proposed. In the second round, 15 indicators matched R, F and CVI criteria. Top-scored indicators were: existence of a current national palliative care strategy (R = 8, F = 8, CVI = 1); ratio of specialized services (for adults and children) in the country per population (R = 8, F = 7, CVI = 1); allocation of funds for palliative care in the national health budget by the Ministry of Health or equivalent government agency (R = 8, F = 6, CVI = 1); education for prequalification doctors/nurses (R = 8, F = 8, CVI = 0.9); and availability of morphine and other strong opioids (R =8, F = 8, CVI= 0.9).

Conclusion: A baseline set of 15 region-specific indicators for measuring development of palliative care were validated by regional experts.

}, url = {http://www.emro.who.int/in-press/research/miguel-a-sanchez-cardenas-eduardo-garralda-danny-van-steijn-nasim-pourghazian-slim-slama-marie-charlotte-bouesseau-carlos-centeno-and-eastern-mediterranean-regional-expert-network-on.html}, author = {S{\'a}nchez-C{\'a}rdenas, MA and E. Garralda and Van Steijn, D and Pourghazian, N and Slama, S and Bouesseau, MC and C. Centeno and Eastern Mediterranean Regional Expert Network on Palliative Care} }