Immediate and long-term effects of a team-based quality improvement training programme

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality improvement
• Medical education
• Patient safety

Background:

• Existing quality improvement (QI) education programs often report gains in knowledge and confidence.
• However, their long-term impact on participants' engagement in QI activities and project outcomes is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a team-based QI training program.
• To assess participants' sustained engagement in QI activities and project success beyond the program's completion.

Main Methods:

• The Academy for Quality and Safety Improvement (AQSI) is a 7-month program combining class and team-based project work.
• Participant knowledge was assessed using multiple-choice tests and the Quality Improvement Knowledge Assessment Test (QIKAT) pre- and post-program.
• Post-program QI activity and project status were evaluated via surveys at 6 and 18 months.

Main Results:

• Participants showed significant improvements in both multiple-choice test scores (71.9±12.7 to 79.4±13.2) and QIKAT scores (55.7±16.3 to 61.8±14.7).
• At 6 months, 87.2% applied QI knowledge/skills, and 62.2% implemented QI interventions.
• At 18 months, 47.5% led other QI projects, and 40.6% provided QI mentorship. 62.5% of teams showed positive project results post-program.

Conclusions:

• A team-based QI training program effectively increases participants' involvement in QI activities long after completion.
• The majority of team projects demonstrated measurable improvements, with many successes occurring post-program completion.