Developing Quality Indicators for Postgraduate Academic Programs in Palliative Care: A Modified Delphi Consensus Study
Journal of Palliative Medicine, pp. 10966218261474440
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite growing recognition of palliative care as a global health priority, postgraduate academic programs in palliative care remain highly heterogeneous and lack operational frameworks for quality evaluation. OBJECTIVE: To develop a consensus-based set of quality indicators for the evaluation of postgraduate academic programs in palliative care, based on expert consensus within the Spanish context. METHODS: A modified Delphi study was conducted with a panel of 19 experts in palliative care and education. Over three rounds, participants assessed proposed indicators according to essentiality, clarity, and measurability. Consensus was defined as a mean score ≥3 and ≥75% agreement. RESULTS: The process resulted in 21 indicators grouped into six domains. Agreement increased across rounds, and all final indicators achieved mean scores above 3.0 across the three dimensions assessed. All final indicators were considered both essential and measurable. CONCLUSIONS: A consensus-based set of 21 quality indicators for postgraduate academic programs in palliative care was developed, providing a structured framework for evaluation. The findings highlight a key challenge in balancing essential educational domains with their measurability. These indicators may support more consistent assessment and comparability across programs, although further validation, implementation testing, and international adaptation are needed.
Authors 21
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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · Universidad de Navarra
Affiliation as printed
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Culture and Society, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Núcleo de Estudos de Bioética (NEBUBI), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal
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Jesús Martín‐Martín corresponding
Massachusetts General Hospital · Navarre Institute of Health Research · Mass General Brigham · Universidad de Navarra
Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Nursing, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Innovation for a Person-Centered Care Group (ICCP-UNAV), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Gamma Alpha Chapter #623, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research, Massachusetts General Brigham, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real
Affiliation as printed
Palliative Care Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Affiliation as printed
Chair of Palliative Care, Fundación Pía Aguirreche & Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Santurce, Spain
Instituto Para Cuidar Mejor, Hospital San Juan de Dios de Santurce, Santurce, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Palliative Care Service, Fundación Rioja Salud, La Rioja, Spain
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Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya · Institut Català d'Oncologia
Affiliation as printed
Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic–Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
Palliative Care Department. Research and Knowledge Group in Palliative Care of Catalan Institute of Oncology (GRICOPAL), Institut Català d'Oncologia-Badalona, Badalona, Spain
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Navarre Institute of Health Research · Universidad de Navarra
Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Nursing, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Innovation for a Person-Centered Care Group (ICCP-UNAV), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Gamma Alpha Chapter #623, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Andalusian Centre for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology · Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga · Universidad de Málaga
Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
Fundación Cudeca, Málaga, Spain
IBIMA Plataforma Bionand, Málaga, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Regional Health Management of Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
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Hospital General Universitario Morales Meseguer
Affiliation as printed
Palliative Care Unit, Hospital JM Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
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Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya
Affiliation as printed
Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic–Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
Faculty of Medicine, UVic-UCC, Vic, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Advanced Education Coordination, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Barcelona, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
University of Almería, Almería, Spain
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Universitat Internacional de Catalunya · Institut Català d'Oncologia
Affiliation as printed
Palliative Care Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Badalona, Spain
School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
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Andalusian Centre for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology · Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga
Affiliation as printed
Fundación Cudeca, Málaga, Spain
IBIMA Plataforma Bionand, Málaga, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Palliative Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Culture and Society, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Pallium Canada, Ottawa, Canada
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Affiliation as printed
Palliative Care Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Palliative Care Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
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