Developing the Quality in Nutrition Care Model for Dietitians (QUINCE-MOD) in primary care: A mixed-method survey of healthcare consumers and professionals.

backgroundEvidence-based models are effective tools for informing quality improvement activities in health care. The Quality in Nutrition Care (QUINCE) model is an evidence-based model that describes quality nutrition care in the primary care setting but has not been applied to primary care dietetics. The present study comprised two phases. In the first phase, the study aimed to evaluate and compare healthcare consumers and professional perspectives on the importance of the 10 statements to understand their relevance for dietetics care. In the second phase, the study aimed to test and enhance the QUINCE model using healthcare consumer and professional responses to statements that were identified as relevant to primary care dietetics in the first phase.

methodsQuantitative and qualitative data were collected using an online survey comprising statements describing quality dietetic care adapted from the complexity literature. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis to investigate statement importance as rated by participants using a six-point Likert scale. Qualitative content analysis was performed on the qualitative data using a deductive-inductive approach to identify patterns in the data. The QUINCE model was compared with identified patterns and modified as appropriate.

resultsOne hundred and fourteen consumers and 107 primary care professionals agreed on the importance of seven statements but expressed divergent views on the remaining three statements that addressed: (1) access to medical records; (2) access to performance and safety information; and (3) variation in care between dietitians. The QUINCE model was modified to produce the Quality in Nutrition Care Model for Dietitians (QUINCE-MOD) describing quality dietetic care in the primary care setting.

conclusionsConsumers and professionals share views on some aspects of quality dietetic care but diverge on other aspects. The QUINCE-MOD is an evidence-based, complexity-informed model that describes components of quality relevant to primary care dietetics. The model should be applied at the practice level to reflect the unique perspective of quality at that level.