Structured intervention utilizing state professional societies to foster quality improvement in practice

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Clinical Practice Transformation
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Management

Background:

• Clinical practices for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) vary despite existing guidelines.
• Quality Improvement (QI) strategies can align office processes with evidence-based care.
• Identifying facilitators and barriers is crucial for effective QI implementation in professional society-led initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify facilitators and barriers to participation in a structured collaborative focused on learning QI methods.
• To improve the clinical practice of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) care.
• To assess the development of QI infrastructure within professional society chapters.

Main Methods:

• Ten American Academy of Pediatrics chapters participated, receiving support via conference calls, listservs, and technical assistance.
• Pediatricians engaged with online continuing medical education modules, workshops, chart reviews, and QI coaching.
• Qualitative data from leader interviews and quantitative data from physician surveys were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Facilitators included physician opinion leaders, workshops, conference calls, QI support, and shared learning opportunities.
• Barriers comprised lack of time, competing clinical priorities, challenges with online modules, and underutilization of listservs.
• Physicians perceived improvements in care, and several chapters planned ongoing QI activities.

Conclusions:

• National and state-level professional societies can develop infrastructure to support QI initiatives.
• Coaching, tools, and expert support are vital for facilitating successful QI efforts.
• Growing requirements for QI in maintenance of certification highlight the role of professional societies in driving practice change.