What are the components of the Donabedian model and how is it used to assess health care quality?

• A. Structure, Process, Outcome; used to evaluate quality by examining resources, delivery of care, and results.
• B. Input, Throughput, Output; used to measure efficiency only.
• C. Planning, Doing, Reviewing; used for project management.
• D. Demand, Supply, Price; used for economics.

Answer: (A)

Donabedian's framework for health care quality splits assessment into three areas: Structure, Process, and Outcome. Structure covers the setting and resources that enable care—the facilities, equipment, staffing, qualifications, and organizational systems. Process looks at how care is delivered—the actions clinicians take, adherence to guidelines, timeliness, and the way information is communicated. Outcome focuses on the results for patients—their health status, recovery, complications, satisfaction, and overall well-being.

By examining indicators in each area, you can identify where quality problems originate and target improvements. For example, strong resources (structure) plus inconsistent or inappropriate care delivery (process) can lead to poorer results (outcomes). Conversely, solid processes may be undermined if the structure is lacking, also harming outcomes. This framework is widely used to guide quality improvement and performance measurement, helping organizations benchmark and drive changes across resources, care delivery, and patient results.

The other options describe different ideas: one is about efficiency and a different input–throughput–output view; another is project management steps; and the last reflects basic economic factors rather than a framework for evaluating care quality.