| Abstract [eng] |
CONSOLIDATION OF THE SYSTEM OF QUALITY INDICATORS FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES Živilė Žemčugovienė Master's thesis Quality management program Vilnius University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Department of Management Supervisor: prof. habil. dr. Juozas Ruževičius Vilnius, 2022 90 pages, 12 figures, 20 tables, 100 literature sources, 4 annexes. The purpose of the master's thesis: based on the analysed scientific literature and the performed empirical author's research, to develop a consolidated model for the evaluation of the laboratory system of quality indicators and to provide insights and suggestions for the successful implementation of the system of quality indicators, after assessing the factors, mea-sures and barriers related to the knowledge, attitude and conduct of laboratory specialists. The following research methods were used to achieve the purpose of the master's thesis: the analysis of scientific literature and information sources; a two-step modified "Delphi" method was used for empirical research that was carried out in two stages, during which various quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to collect the data. The following tools were used for the data collection: a form questionnaire - for the quantitative research and an interview questionnaire - for the qualitative research. The quantitative research was carried out by conducting surveys of laboratory specialists on the website https://apklausa.lt/. For the quali-tative research, interviews of experts were conducted electronically by sending an interview questionnaire to the purposefully selected experts. The Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 26) program, descriptive statistics and variance analysis were used to process the data obtained during the research. The following statistical tools were used: calculation of averages, Cronbach alfa, Shapiro-Wilk, Stjudent t, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis criteria. The main results of the research: based on the performed analysis of scientific sources and on the results of empirical research, the developed consolidated model for the evaluation of the laboratory system of quality indicators covers the entire process of conducting the research, meets the requirements of the international standard LST EN ISO 15189:2013, is dynamic and ensures the criteria for the evaluation of health care quality measures. As a result of the re-search, the most appropriate evaluation methods for the quality indicators were identified, the factors, measures and barriers related to the knowledge, attitude and conduct of laboratory spe-cialists were assessed. The developed consolidated model for the evaluation of the laboratory system of quality indicators combines three important groups of elements: 3 stages of the labo-ratory testing process (the pre- and post-analytical, analytical phases ), 15 quality indicators (disaggregated by priority of use) and 6 health care quality elements. By interacting and rota-ting according to E.Deming's cycle, these three elements form an integrated system for conti-nuous performance improvement not only in the laboratory, but also in the context of the quali-ty of health care as a whole. Key-words: medical laboratory, quality, quality indicator, health care system, model, paradox of quality indicators. |
