Can quality improvement improve the quality of care? A systematic review of reported effects and methodological rigor in plan-do-study-act projects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method is widely used in quality improvement (QI) strategies. However, previous studies have indicated that methodological problems are frequent in PDSA-based QI projects. Furthermore, it has been difficult to establish an association between the use of PDSA and improvements in clinical practices and patient outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to examine whether recently published PDSA-based QI projects show self-reported effects and are conducted according to key features of the method.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed, Embase and CINAHL databases. QI projects using PDSA published in peer-reviewed journals in 2015 and 2016 were included. Projects were assessed to determine the reported eff

SUBMITTER: Knudsen SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6778385 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature