Background
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS)
Database collects and monitors preoperative, operative, and 30-day outcome data on
patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and delivers regular performance feedback reports
to key personnel with intent to drive quality improvement. The current feedback approach
appears to be ineffective in driving change to minimise Unit performance variation.
We sought to determine the acceptability and feasibility of providing structured feedback
in addition.
Methods
Cardiac surgeons were surveyed to assess their evaluation of the current feedback
reports and assist in developing the content of structured feedback. We then assessed
acceptability and performance outcomes of control Units receiving current feedback
reports via email, versus intervention Units that in addition received structured
feedback.
Results
Survey respondents assessing the current feedback report agreed that the content is
relevant (95%), key performance indicators (KPIs) are useful (85%), and that it would
be beneficial to compare surgeons’ KPIs (75%). Survey respondents rating method of
feedback, requested structured feedback sessions one to two times annually (67%; control
Units), and future structured feedback (83%; intervention Units). With combined report
and structured feedback, improved performance was noted for an under-performing Unit.
Limitations of feedback in driving quality improvement was high performance of Units
at baseline, low surgeon participation, and scheduling challenges for structured feedback.
Conclusions
In this pilot study, compared to the control method, structured feedback did not significantly
improve communication. To maximise quality improvement efforts, a collaborative feedback
approach that fosters a climate of continuous performance improvement, is recommended.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 25, 2018
Accepted:
July 15,
2018
Received in revised form:
April 16,
2018
Received:
August 23,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
