Fig. 3
From: Quality indicators of palliative care for cardiovascular intensive care
Scheme of development and usage of quality indicators. Quality indicators are based on expert opinion, evidence, political priorities, regulations, and ethical positions. In addition, quality indicators are educational tools to help people understand the nature of a particular field. Quality indicators are also used to monitor the quality of care in hospitals and departments. Structural/behavioral changes after monitoring and education lead to quality improvement. These quality improvement processes are a continuous and iterative cycle. SPO Structure–Process–Outcome