Quality Dimensions
The Cancer System Quality Index uses quality dimensions as a framework for cancer system performance reporting. The indicators selected ensure comprehensive representation across the 6 quality dimensions that reflect a high performing cancer system: Effective, Efficient, Equitable, Timely, Safe and Person-Centred. These dimensions aligned with the 6 system goals of the Ontario Cancer Plan and the quality domains from the National Academy of Medicine.
| Quality Dimension | Definition | How This Measures Performance |
| Effectiveness | Providing services based on scientific knowledge to all who could benefit, and refraining from providing services to those not likely to benefit (avoiding underuse and misuse, respectively). | The cancer system in Ontario aims to provide effective cancer care based on best evidence. Effective cancer care means that patients receive evidence-based care that facilitates the best possible outcome for their health. |
| Efficient | Avoiding waste, including waste of equipment, supplies, ideas and energy. | Ontarians want healthcare resources to be used optimally, with minimal duplication and waste. To continue providing high quality cancer services into the future, it is important for our cancer system to be sustainable so that demand for care is met. |
| Equitable | Providing care that does not vary in quality because of personal characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, geographic location and socioeconomic status. | Everyone in Ontario should be their healthiest. Better health equity across the cancer system helps ensure that people are not disadvantaged by who they are, where they live or what resources they have. |
| Timely | Reducing waits and sometimes harmful delays for both those who receive and those who give care. | Many patients say that waiting for care is one of the most stressful parts of having or suspecting cancer. Reduced wait times are important for quality of life and decision-making, and can be important for clinical outcomes. |
| Safe | Avoiding harm to patients from the care that is intended to help them. | Patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals expect their health system to deliver safe care. There is a need to be proactive in reducing avoidable harm in all care settings. |
| Person-Centred | Providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensuring patient values guide all clinical decisions. | The patient’s view of the care experience is an important factor that defines excellence of care. The delivery of responsive and respectful person-centred care is important for optimizing quality of life across the cancer care continuum. |
The focus on quality as measure of performance is crucial for the continuous drive towards better cancer care in Ontario. The following table shows which quality domains relate to each indicator reported in the Cancer System Quality Index. Indicators may fall under multiple domains.
There are several domains and disease sites for which indicators are still under development; future editions of the Cancer System Quality Index will provide a more comprehensive view of performance along the quality domains and will include additional indicators representative of a high performing cancer system. See Indicators Under Development for more information.