Table 2 Content analysis results for identified indicator sets

Key characteristic

Number (%)

Health care aspect (structural, process and outcome)*

19 (76%) process (Campbell Research and Consulting (CR&C) (Campbell Research and Consulting (CR&C) 2006; Nay et al. 2004; Courtney et al. 2007; Wegner et al. 2007; NSW Therapeutic Assessment Group 2007; Basger et al. 2008; Hilmer et al. 2007; Holt et al. 2010; Hanlon et al. 1992; Rognstad et al. 2009; Huisman-Baron et al. 2011; O'Mahony et al. 2010; Winit-Watjana et al. 2008; Laroche et al. 2007; Rancourt et al. 2004; Onder et al. 2013; Naugler et al. 2000))

1 (4%) outcome (Mackinnon & Hepler 2002)

5 (20%) combination (National Committee for Quality Assurance & USA: www.ncqa.org Accessed [September 2013; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009; Department of Health 2012; Primary Care & Social Care Information Centre 2013; National Prescribing Service 2006)

Explicit or implicit*

20(80%) explicit ((National Committee for Quality Assurance & USA: www.ncqa.org Accessed [September 2013; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009); Campbell Research and Consulting (CR&C) (Campbell Research and Consulting (CR&C) 2006; Nay et al. 2004; Courtney et al. 2007; Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services & USA: www.cms.gov Accessed [February 2014; Wegner et al. 2007; Primary Care & Social Care Information Centre 2013; NSW Therapeutic Assessment Group 2007; National Prescribing Service 2006; Mackinnon & Hepler 2002; Hilmer et al. 2007; Holt et al. 2010; The American Geriatrics Society 2012; Rognstad et al. 2009; O'Mahony et al. 2010; Winit-Watjana et al. 2008; Laroche et al. 2007; Rancourt et al. 2004; Naugler et al. 2000))

3 (12%) implicit (Department of Health 2012; Hanlon et al. 1992; Huisman-Baron et al. 2011)

2 (8%) combination(Basger et al. 2008; Onder et al. 2013)

Validity and reliability

23 (92%) developed via literature review and consensus methods except DBI (Hilmer et al. 2007) and the Australian Prescribing Indicators Tool (Basger et al. 2008)

7 (28%) tested for reliability (National Committee for Quality Assurance & USA: www.ncqa.org Accessed [September 2013; Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services & USA: www.cms.gov Accessed [February 2014; NSW Therapeutic Assessment Group 2007; National Prescribing Service 2006; The American Geriatrics Society 2012; Hanlon et al. 1992; Naugler et al. 2000)

Real life application (transferability and feasibility)

8 (32%) tested for feasibility (National Committee for Quality Assurance & USA: www.ncqa.org Accessed [September 2013; Courtney et al. 2007; NSW Therapeutic Assessment Group 2007; National Prescribing Service 2006; The American Geriatrics Society 2012; Hanlon et al. 1992; O'Mahony et al. 2010; Naugler et al. 2000)

Consumer involvement

7 (28%)((Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009; Department of Health 2012); Campbell Research and Consulting (CR&C) (Campbell Research and Consulting (CR&C) 2006; Nay et al. 2004; Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services & USA: www.cms.gov Accessed [February 2014; Primary Care & Social Care Information Centre 2013; National Prescribing Service 2006))

Validity

5 (20%) tested for predictive validity (Spinewine et al. 2007; Hamilton et al. 2011; Wilson et al. 2012; Frazier 2005)

5 (20%) tested for concurrent validity (Hamilton et al. 2011; Luo et al. 2012)

Real life application (external validity and feasibility)

6 (24%) used in different countries or setting (Gallagher et al. 2011; Askari et al. 2012; Hanlon & Schmader 2013; Fiona 2011)

3 (12%) routinely externally reported (National Committee for Quality Assurance & USA: www.ncqa.org Accessed [September 2013; Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services & USA: www.cms.gov Accessed [February 2014; Primary Care & Social Care Information Centre 2013)