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Strengthening organizational performance through accreditation research - a framework for twelve interrelated studies: the ACCREDIT project study protocol

Strengthening organizational performance through accreditation research - a framework for twelve interrelated studies: the ACCREDIT project study protocol
Strengthening organizational performance through accreditation research - a framework for twelve interrelated studies: the ACCREDIT project study protocol
Background: Service accreditation is a structured process of recognising and promoting performance and adherence to standards. Typically, accreditation agencies either receive standards from an authorized body or develop new and upgrade existing standards through research and expert views. They then apply standards, criteria and performance indicators, testing their effects, and monitoring compliance with them. The accreditation process has been widely adopted. The international investments in accreditation are considerable. However, reliable evidence of its efficiency or effectiveness in achieving organizational improvements is sparse and the value of accreditation in cost-benefit terms has yet to be demonstrated. Although some evidence suggests that accreditation promotes the improvement and standardization of care, there have been calls to strengthen its research base. In response, the ACCREDIT (Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork) project has been established to evaluate the effectiveness of Australian accreditation in achieving its goals. ACCREDIT is a partnership of key researchers, policymakers and agencies.
Findings

We present the framework for our studies in accreditation. Four specific aims of the ACCREDIT project, which will direct our findings, are to: (i) evaluate current accreditation processes; (ii) analyse the costs and benefits of accreditation; (iii) improve future accreditation via evidence; and (iv) develop and apply new standards of consumer involvement in accreditation. These will be addressed through 12 interrelated studies designed to examine specific issues identified as a high priority. Novel techniques, a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, and randomized designs relevant for health-care research have been developed. These methods allow us to circumvent the fragmented and incommensurate findings that can be generated in small-scale, project-based studies. The overall approach for our research is a multi-level, multi-study design.
Discussion

The ACCREDIT project will examine the utility, reliability, relevance and cost effectiveness of differing forms of accreditation, focused on general practice, aged care and acute care settings in Australia. Empirically, there are potential research gains to be made by understanding accreditation and extending existing knowledge; theoretically, this design will facilitate a systems view of accreditation of benefit to the partnership, international research communities, and future accreditation designers.
1756-0500
Braithwaite, Jeffrey
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Westbrook, Johanna
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Johnston, Brian
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Clark, Stephen
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Brandon, Mark
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Banks, Margaret
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Hughes, Clifford
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Greenfield, David
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Pawsey, Marjorie
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Corbett, Angus
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Georgiou, Andrew
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Callen, Joanne
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Ovretveit, John
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Pope, Catherine
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Sunol, Rosa
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Shaw, Charles
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Debono, Deborah
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Westbrook, Mary
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Hinchcliff, Reece
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Moldovan, Max
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Braithwaite, Jeffrey
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Westbrook, Johanna
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Johnston, Brian
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Clark, Stephen
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Brandon, Mark
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Banks, Margaret
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Hughes, Clifford
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Greenfield, David
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Pawsey, Marjorie
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Corbett, Angus
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Georgiou, Andrew
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Callen, Joanne
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Ovretveit, John
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Pope, Catherine
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Sunol, Rosa
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Shaw, Charles
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Debono, Deborah
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Westbrook, Mary
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Hinchcliff, Reece
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Moldovan, Max
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Braithwaite, Jeffrey, Westbrook, Johanna and Johnston, Brian et al. (2011) Strengthening organizational performance through accreditation research - a framework for twelve interrelated studies: the ACCREDIT project study protocol. BMC Research Notes, 4 (390). (doi:10.1186/1756-0500-4-390). (PMID:21981910)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Service accreditation is a structured process of recognising and promoting performance and adherence to standards. Typically, accreditation agencies either receive standards from an authorized body or develop new and upgrade existing standards through research and expert views. They then apply standards, criteria and performance indicators, testing their effects, and monitoring compliance with them. The accreditation process has been widely adopted. The international investments in accreditation are considerable. However, reliable evidence of its efficiency or effectiveness in achieving organizational improvements is sparse and the value of accreditation in cost-benefit terms has yet to be demonstrated. Although some evidence suggests that accreditation promotes the improvement and standardization of care, there have been calls to strengthen its research base. In response, the ACCREDIT (Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork) project has been established to evaluate the effectiveness of Australian accreditation in achieving its goals. ACCREDIT is a partnership of key researchers, policymakers and agencies.
Findings

We present the framework for our studies in accreditation. Four specific aims of the ACCREDIT project, which will direct our findings, are to: (i) evaluate current accreditation processes; (ii) analyse the costs and benefits of accreditation; (iii) improve future accreditation via evidence; and (iv) develop and apply new standards of consumer involvement in accreditation. These will be addressed through 12 interrelated studies designed to examine specific issues identified as a high priority. Novel techniques, a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, and randomized designs relevant for health-care research have been developed. These methods allow us to circumvent the fragmented and incommensurate findings that can be generated in small-scale, project-based studies. The overall approach for our research is a multi-level, multi-study design.
Discussion

The ACCREDIT project will examine the utility, reliability, relevance and cost effectiveness of differing forms of accreditation, focused on general practice, aged care and acute care settings in Australia. Empirically, there are potential research gains to be made by understanding accreditation and extending existing knowledge; theoretically, this design will facilitate a systems view of accreditation of benefit to the partnership, international research communities, and future accreditation designers.

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e-pub ahead of print date: October 2011
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 199215
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/199215
ISSN: 1756-0500
PURE UUID: c30a259c-0ae1-4ac7-b750-17e8c683c71f
ORCID for Catherine Pope: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8935-6702

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Date deposited: 13 Oct 2011 09:04
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:15

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Contributors

Author: Jeffrey Braithwaite
Author: Johanna Westbrook
Author: Brian Johnston
Author: Stephen Clark
Author: Mark Brandon
Author: Margaret Banks
Author: Clifford Hughes
Author: David Greenfield
Author: Marjorie Pawsey
Author: Angus Corbett
Author: Andrew Georgiou
Author: Joanne Callen
Author: John Ovretveit
Author: Catherine Pope ORCID iD
Author: Rosa Sunol
Author: Charles Shaw
Author: Deborah Debono
Author: Mary Westbrook
Author: Reece Hinchcliff
Author: Max Moldovan

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