Knowledge development, quality improvement, and research ethics

Significant contributions to the improvement of health care have been made through research and quality improvement activities. Scientists are involved in knowledge generation and new forms of evidence as they test or reshape theory. Clinicians more typically are involved in identifying ways to improve the quality of practice and patient care in their practice environments. These types of activities often are referred to as quality improvement projects. While quality improvement and research projects both rely on powerful and precise measurement, the lines between these domains and how they may relate to each other have been blurred (Grady, 2007). Recent insights have helped to clarify the contributions of quality improvement activities as well as some of the challenges those types of projects may face from an ethical perspective.