Use of quality improvement methods in Finnish health centres in 1998 and 2003

To evaluate how widely quality improvement methods are used in Finnish primary health centres and how the use has changed over five years.

Two national cross-sectional postal enquiries.

The questionnaire in 1998 was sent to every other physician graduated during the years 1977-1986, and the questionnaire in 2003 to every other physician graduated during the years 1982-1991. The response rates were 73.9% and 62.2%. The answers of primary healthcare physicians (n = 503 vs. 344) were analysed.

The availability of 13 quality improvement methods was solicited. The change over five years was analysed.

Opportunity to obtain continuing medical education (CME), in-service training, meetings, opportunity to consult a colleague in own speciality, and agreed guidelines on how a certain problem should be solved were highly reported both in 1998 and 2003. The biggest improvement (16.8%) concerned clinical guidelines. There was also progress with regard to quality improvement manuals at the place of work, opportunity to consult a colleague in another speciality, and computer-assisted monitoring of own work.

Many quality improvement methods were highly reported in both 1998 and 2003 in Finnish health centres. The biggest positive change concerns clinical guidelines.