Evaluating Quality of Short-Term Medical Missions
Author Information
Author(s): Maki Jesse, Qualls Munirih, White Benjamin, Kleefield Sharon, Crone Robert
Primary Institution: Harvard Medical School
Hypothesis
Can a standardized assessment tool improve the evaluation of quality in short-term medical missions?
Conclusion
The study provides a standardized tool for evaluating short-term medical missions, identifying strengths and weaknesses in their quality of care.
Supporting Evidence
- The evaluation tool assesses six major and thirty minor factors important to the quality of STMMs.
- Missions performed best in Cost and Impact, but poorly in Education.
- The tool aims to improve quality of care and stimulate discussion among missions.
Takeaway
This study created a tool to help medical missions check how well they are doing, so they can get better at helping people.
Methodology
The study involved a needs assessment, survey design, and pilot testing with five short-term medical missions.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to personal investment of mission directors in their missions' success.
Limitations
The tool relies on self-evaluation by mission directors, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included mission directors, personnel, local hosts, and patients from five different missions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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