Can Medical Students Lead Effective Quality Improvement Initiatives? A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Student Research

Background:

• Quality improvement project (QUIP) concepts are increasingly integrated into medical school curricula.
• Medical students are frequently required to conduct QUIPs as part of their academic progression.
• The effectiveness and sustainability of student-led QUIPs require thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of student-led quality improvement projects (QUIPs).
• To evaluate the sustainability of QUIPs conducted by medical students.
• To identify factors influencing the success and longevity of student-led healthcare improvements.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across five major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Ovid, CINAHL, PsycINFO).
• The search covered articles published between January 28, 1978, and January 28, 2018.
• Twelve articles were included after screening 3965 identified articles and 9 hand-searched articles.

Main Results:

• Over 50% of the QUIPs reported a statistically significant improvement in their primary outcome.
• Student-led QUIPs demonstrated effectiveness in achieving desired changes.
• The sustainability of these projects was limited, with a mean final audit conducted at 4.4 months.

Conclusions:

• Medical students possess the capability to design and execute effective quality improvement projects.
• A structured approach is needed to support medical students in testing and validating novel interventions.
• Further research should focus on enhancing the sustainability of student-led QUIPs for long-term impact.