Standard setting: an introduction to differing approaches.

Abstract

In recent years there have been widespread developments in the National Health Service concerning quality assurance programmes. Differing approaches have been established throughout the United Kingdom and to individuals new to the field it is easy to become confused with the wide range of approaches described in many nursing and health service journals. A common theme in all such programmes involves defining the standard of service to be provided, then attempting to measure that service. This article will examine four different approaches to standard setting based on a multidisciplinary discharge standard. The process of setting the standards will be described and critiqued in each case, and this will be followed in the final section by a discussion of the different approaches.