Evaluation of operation and death statistics at surgical procedures by using attribute control charts

Abstract

Statistical Process Control (SPC) is a technique that enables the quality controllerto monitor, analyze, predict, control, and improve a production processthrough control charts. So to use of SPC in medical field is very important.The cases were obtained at the Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of medicinedepartments of surgical sciences within two year were evaluated. The outcomesof the operations in these departments were followed throughout twenty-fourmonths. For a surgical procedure has two possible outcomes; a nonconformingproduct (the patient dies) or a conforming one (the patient survives), theboth the death and the alive were accepted as attribute data. The four type ofattribute charts were applied to this data. These were p-chart, np-chart, c-chartand u-chart. If the statistical process was an “in-control” or not was tried todetermine by the attribute charts. As a result of the statistical processes of thesedepartments were evaluated, this provided easily be viewed the pattern of process.The aim of this research is to use the attribute control charts in medicalfield (especially hospital performance evaluation) and to show availability ofthe attribute control charts in medical field.