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International Journal for Quality in Health Care 5:49-56 (1993)
© 1993 International Society for Quality in Health Care

The Appropriateness of Human Albumin Use in the Hospital of Padova, Italy

C. FAVARETTI, V. SELLE, A. MARCOLONGO and A. ORSINI

Medical Directorate, Hospital and University Medical Centre Padova, Italy

The authors present the findings of a study in three stages (1989–1991) on the appropriateness of human albumin use at the hospital of Padova, Italy. In the first stage, guidelines for appropriate use were defined and a monitoring system was set up. In the second stage, compliance of the hospital departments with the new guidelines was assessed in a sample of human albumin prescription charts and related medical records. This revealed a reduction in consumption of 25%. Sixty-eight per cent of all albumin was given for indications that are only occasionally appropriate. The information given in the prescription chart agreed with the diagnosis contained in the medical records in 78% of cases. At the end of this stage new regulating mechanisms were introduced. The third stage consisted of a medium-term assessment and produced basically the same results as the previous stage. Crucial steps in the implementation of effective actions in quality improvement processes have been discussed.

Keywords: Clinical appropriateness, human albumin, quality assessment, quality improvement, health services research

Dr C. Favaretti, Direzione Sanitaria, Complesso Ospedale Universita, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italia.


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