Table 2.

Final process variable definitions

Participant	Final process variable definition
One	A process variable is a specific measure which can be quantified and tracked that affects the outcome of healthcare service delivery. Process variables are often associated with the identification and management of bottlenecks or constraints within a system.
Two	A health-related process variable is a process that has an impact on any part of the patient’s journey, it is interdependent with the patient and other processes, it is modifiable, measurable, and generally patient centric. One should always consider the effect of modification and change of a process variable on the overall outcomes for the patient.
Three	An interdependent factor in a clinical care pathway that creates variability in a process measure, moderating one or more clinical and operational outcomes.
Four	A health process variable are patient-centric interdependent and modifiable factors that impact current processes and pathways to enhance and improve patient, provider and community engagement and create a change in the system that will have a sustainable impact now and in the future. This includes removing access barriers, improving funding structures, operational efficiencies, technology/systems integration (including real-time information sharing, data exchange, collection), and engagement initiatives.
Five	A health process variable is any modifiable factor in a health process or pathway that can be quantified and measured and that if varied may achieve a different operational or patient outcome.
Six	A range of processes and inputs that are used to engage, treat, and enable a patient along their pathway to recovery. These are clinical/psychosocial and are modifiable by those engaged in that patients care and return to function including by the patient and their family and employer.
Seven/Eight	Process variables are modifiable aspects of the end-to-end patient care pathway that can influence a patient outcome.