Developing a National Accreditation Model for Medication Management in the Iranian Primary Health Care System

Esmaeil  Moshiri; Masoumeh  Ebrahimi Tavani; Farid  Gharibi

doi:10.18502/htaa.v9i2.18716

Esmaeil Moshiri Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
Masoumeh Ebrahimi Tavani Quality Improvement, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Center of Health Network Management, Deputy of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
Farid Gharibi Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v9i2.18716

Keywords: Accreditation; Model; Primary Health Care; Medication Management

Abstract

Background: Medication management plays a critical role in the quality of delivered treatments and patient safety.

Objectives: The present study aimed to develop a national accreditation model for medication management within the Iranian primary health care (PHC) system.

Methods: The primary standards were developed by considering existing accreditation models worldwide, reviewing available medication management documentation in Iran’s PHC system, and obtaining expert opinions in this field. The developed standards and measures were incorporated into a Delphi Questionnaire and evaluated by experts based on two criteria: Importance and feasibility, using a 9-point scale. The Delphi panel consisted of 20 experts, and the technique was implemented over two rounds. Of the 20 experts, 18 completed the questionnaire, with response rates of 90% and 100% in the first and second rounds, respectively.

Results: The study was conducted in 2021 - 2022. In the first round of the Delphi process, 55 out of 65 primary measures reached a quorum and were accepted. The remaining ten measures were approved by experts in the second round. The model developed in this study comprises five main standards: “Provision of resources for activities in the field of medication management”, “development and consideration of the list of authorized medications for prescribing in the form of a pharmacopoeia”, “safety in prescription and medication use”, “ordering, storing, and dispensing systems of medications” and “educating the community about the correct use of medications”. The total mean scores for all measures in terms of importance and feasibility were 8.32 and 7.68, respectively.

Conclusions: Given the high consensus among experts on the importance and feasibility of the developed standards, there is optimism that utilizing this model can lead to continuous improvement in the quality and safety of medication management in the Iranian PHC system.