Communication in healthcare quality management frameworks: a comparative analysis of international quality systems

Purpose Healthcare quality management frameworks are widely used to strengthen governance, patient safety and organisational accountability in health systems. Although communication is recognised as an important component of safe and effective healthcare, its role within formal quality management frameworks has received limited systematic attention. This study examines how communication is embedded in major international healthcare quality management frameworks and identifies differences in how communication processes are conceptualised across these systems. Design/methodology/approach The study applies a comparative framework analysis of six internationally recognised healthcare quality management systems representing different governance models. The analytical unit of the study is the framework rather than individual documents. A qualitative document analysis was conducted using a structured analytical matrix consisting of seven communication-related dimensions: governance communication, patient communication, team communication, complaint communication, information management, communication training and communication in quality improvement. Findings Communication appears across all analysed frameworks, although the level of formalisation varies between governance models. Accreditation-based frameworks regulate communication most explicitly, particularly in relation to patient engagement, team coordination and complaint management. In contrast, management standards and policy frameworks tend to integrate communication more indirectly within broader governance and quality improvement processes. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on publicly available framework-level standards and guidance documents and does not examine the practical implementation of these frameworks within healthcare organisations. Future research could investigate how communication standards are operationalised in organisational and clinical contexts. Practical implications The findings suggest that healthcare leaders selecting or implementing quality management systems should consider the extent to which communication processes are explicitly integrated within the framework. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing a comparative analysis of communication integration across international healthcare quality management frameworks and by conceptualising communication as an organisational component of healthcare quality governance.