Development of quality indicators for physiotherapy for patients with PAOD in the Netherlands: a Delphi study.

Abstract Objectives The aim of the study was to develop quality indicators (QIs) for physiotherapy management of patients with intermittent claudication (IC) in the Netherlands. Design As part of an international six-step method to develop QIs, an online survey Delphi-procedure was completed. After two Delphi-rounds a validation round was performed. Participants Twenty-six experts were recruited to participate in this study. Twenty-four experts completed two Delphi-rounds. A third round was conducted inviting 1200 qualified and registered physiotherapists of the Dutch integrated care network ‘Claudicationet’ to validate a draft set of quality indicators. Results Out of 83 potential QIs in the Dutch physiotherapy guideline on ‘Intermittent claudication’, consensus among the experts selected nine indicators. All nine quality indicators were validated by 300 physiotherapists. Conclusion A final set of nine indicators was derived from (1) a Dutch evidence-based physiotherapy guideline, (2) an expert Delphi procedure and (3) a validation by 300 physiotherapists. This set of indicators should be validated in clinical practice.