Insights on a National Safety Improvement Learning Collaborative: Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality improvement research
• Implementation science in healthcare settings
• Health services research

Background:

• Growing interest in quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) despite limited understanding of implementation factors.
• Need to explore contextual factors influencing collective and local project execution within QICs.
• Focus on a nationwide QIC in Canada to understand implementation dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore contextual factors impacting the implementation of a nationwide Quality Improvement Collaborative (QIC).
• To utilize the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as a guiding framework.
• To provide insights for healthcare leaders on co-design, implementation, and evaluation of improvement efforts.

Main Methods:

• Deductive qualitative content analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).
• Analysis of data from document analysis and semi-structured interviews.
• Inclusion of participants from 30 participating healthcare organizations across Canada.

Main Results:

• Identification of diverse contextual factors influencing QIC uptake across settings.
• Key factors included intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, and process elements.
• Demonstrated the utility of a theory-driven approach for evaluating quality improvement initiatives.

Conclusions:

• Provided insights into contextual factors affecting local safety projects within a larger QIC.
• Offers a potential template for healthcare leaders to guide improvement efforts.
• Highlights the importance of a multi-pronged, theory-driven approach for successful implementation and evaluation.