From Theory to Practice: Development and Evaluation of a Quality Improvement Curriculum for Psychiatry Residents

Quality improvement (QI) is a systematic approach used to analyze and address problems in healthcare. Evidence of its success has led some national regulatory bodies to require QI education in residency training programs. However, limited work to date has demonstrated how residency programs can integrate best practices in QI education to design their own curriculum. This study describes the implementation and evaluation of a new QI curriculum, grounded in a theoretical model of how QI education works, for Canadian psychiatry residents.

PGY-2 and PGY-4 psychiatry residents received a 2.5-h mixed didactic and simulation-based QI workshop as a part of the 2021-2022 academic curriculum. Their knowledge and attitudes toward QI were assessed using the QI Knowledge Application Tool Revised (QIKAT-R) and the Beliefs and Attitudes subscale of the Beliefs, Attitudes, Skills, and Confidence in QI (BASiC-QI).

Eleven of 12 residents (92%) who completed the curriculum participated in the study. Average QIKAT-R scores improved from 4.45 to 7.00. Average BASiC-QI Beliefs and Attitudes subscale scores increased by 5.55 points. Residents reported enjoying QI and an increased desire to participate in future QI projects.

This study demonstrates how a programme theory of QI education can be used to develop an effective, locally-tailored curriculum. This approach can be replicated by other educators to develop or improve QI curricula.