Clinical Pathways: Systematic Review of outcome parameters and effectiveness

Research areas: High tech medicine, HTA-methods & steering instruments

Project lead: Philipp Mad
Project team: Philipp Mad
Duration: July 2007 - September 2008

Background:
In recent years clinical pathways have been increasingly introduced in western countries as instruments for quality assurance. A survey among users of clinical pathways in 23 countries found that clinical pathways are mainly perceived as tools for improving multidisciplinary approaches to enhance quality and evidence based care. These days, clinical pathways are primarily applied in acute health care settings. Despite worldwide increased implementation of clinical pathways many questions remain on their actual impact: on the one hand there are uncertainties about their exact definition, scope and profile in contrast to other instruments of quality assurance. On the other hand, their intention, value and measurable benefit are not entirely clear.

Aims and research objectives:
The objective of this assessment is to look closely at the potential for evaluating the impact of clinical pathways in general and to identify outcome-indicators on the basis of previous evaluations, and to give an overview of the effectiveness of clinical pathways as measured by these outcome-indicators

Method:
The appraisal orientates itself according to the methodology developed by the propositions of the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group for measuring the impact of organisational, regulative, educative and financial interventions in health.

Publication: HTA-Project Report 16

Contact: Philipp Mad