PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Jenifer Olive Darr AU - Richard C Franklin AU - Kristin Emma McBain-Rigg AU - Sarah Larkins AU - Yvette Roe AU - Kathryn Panaretto AU - Vicki Saunders AU - Melissa Crowe TI - Quality management systems in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services: a review of the literature AID - 10.1136/bmjoq-2020-001091 DP - 2021 Jul 01 TA - BMJ Open Quality PG - e001091 VI - 10 IP - 3 4099 - http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/3/e001091.short 4100 - http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/3/e001091.full SO - BMJ Open Qual2021 Jul 01; 10 AB - Background A national accreditation policy for the Australian primary healthcare (PHC) system was initiated in 2008. While certification standards are mandatory, little is known about their effects on the efficiency and sustainability of organisations, particularly in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) sector.Aim The literature review aims to answer the following: to what extent does the implementation of the International Organisation for Standardization 9001:2008 quality management system (QMS) facilitate efficiency and sustainability in the ACCHS sector?Methods Thematic analysis of peer-reviewed and grey literature was undertaken from Australia and New Zealand PHC sector with a focus on First Nations people. The databases searched included Medline, Scopus and three Informit sites (AHB-ATSIS, AEI-ATSIS and AGIS-ATSIS). The initial search strategy included quality improvement, continuous quality improvement, efficiency and sustainability.Results Sixteen included studies were assessed for quality using the McMaster criteria. The studies were ranked against the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Three central themes emerged: accreditation (n=4), quality improvement (n=9) and systems strengthening (n=3). The accreditation theme included effects on health service expenditure and clinical outcomes, consistency and validity of accreditation standards and linkages to clinical governance frameworks. The quality improvement theme included audit effectiveness and value for specific population health. The theme of systems strengthening included prerequisite systems and embedded clinical governance measures for innovative models of care.Conclusion The ACCHS sector warrants reliable evidence to understand the value of QMSs and enhancement tools, particularly given ACCHS (client-centric) services and their specialist status. Limited evidence exists for the value of standards on health system sustainability and efficiency in Australia. Despite a mandatory second certification standard, no studies reported on sustainability and efficiency of a QMS in PHC.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.