Question

Give a detailed description of Donabedian model of quality ( 300 words)

Answer 1

Avedis Donabedian a physician and health services researcher at the University of Michigan, in 1966 had set a conceptual model which provides a framework for examining health services and evaluating quality of health care.

Basically the Donabedian model is a model which provides a set pattern to access the effectiveness of the health care services with context to the quality of care.

According to this model, information about quality of care can be drawn from three major categories:

Structure

It covers the context in which care is delivered, including hospital buildings, staff, financing & equipment.

Process

It describes the transactions between patients and providers throughout the delivery of healthcare.

Outcomes    

It defines the effects of healthcare on the health status of patients & populations

Following are the suggestions to improve the quality of care:

• Providing emotional support to the patients
• Offer a better quality of communication and information flow
• Consideration of the patient’s involvement in the decision

Hence by adopting these practices the quality of health care services can be enhanced as per Donabedian model.