Surveyor management of hospital accreditation program : a thematic analysis conducted in Iran

Abstract EN

Background: The surveyors in hospital accreditation program are considered as the core of accreditation programs.

So, the reliability and validity of the accreditation program heavily depend on their performance.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the dimensions and factors affecting surveyor management of hospital accreditation programs in Iran.

Materials and Methods: This qualitative study used a thematic analysis method, and was performed in Iran in 2014.

The study participants included experts in the field of hospital accreditation, and were derived from three groups: 1.

Policy-makers, administrators, and surveyors of the accreditation bureau, the ministry of health and medical education, Iranian universities of medical science; 2.

Healthcare service providers, and 3.

University professors and faculty members.

The data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews.

Following text transcription and control of compliance with the original text, MAXQDA10 software was used to code, classify, and organize the interviews in six stages.

Results: The findings from the analysis of 21 interviews were first classified in the form of 1347 semantic units, 11 themes, 17 sub-themes, and 248 codes.

These were further discussed by an expert panel, which then resulted in the emergence of seven main themes - selection and recruitment of the surveyor team, organization of the surveyor team, planning to perform surveys, surveyor motivation and retention, surveyor training, surveyor assessment, and recommendations - as well as 27 sub-themes, and 112 codes.

Conclusions: The dimensions and variables affecting the surveyors’ management were identified and classified on the basis of existing scientific methods in the form of a conceptual framework.

Using the results of this study, it would certainly be possible to take a great step toward enhancing the reliability of surveys and the quality and safety of services, while effectively managing accreditation program surveyors.