Are quality improvement methods a fashion for hospitals in Taiwan?

This study reviews the rise and fall of the quality improvement (QI) methods implemented by hospitals in Taiwan, and examines the factors related to these methods.

Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey.

One hundred and thirty-nine district teaching hospitals, regional hospitals and medical centers.

Directors or the persons in charge of implementing QI methods.

s) None.

s) Breadth and depth of the 18 QI methods.

Seventy-two hospitals responded to the survey, giving a response rate of 52%. In terms of breadth based on the hospitals' self-reporting, the average number of QI methods adopted per hospital was 11.78 (range: 7-17). More than 80% of the surveyed hospitals had implemented eight QI methods, and >50% had implemented five QI methods. The QI methods adopted by over 80% of the surveyed hospitals had been implemented for a period of ∼7 years. On the basis of the authors' classification, seven of the eight QI methods (except for QI team in total quality management) had an implementation depth of almost 70% or higher in the surveyed hospitals.

This study provides a snapshot of the QI methods implemented by hospitals in Taiwan. The results show that the average breadth of the QI methods adopted was 11.78; however, only 8.83 were implemented deeply. The hospitals' accreditation level was associated with the breadth and depth of QI method implementation.