Statistical quality control methods in infection control and hospital epidemiology, part I: Introduction and basic...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Epidemiology
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Hospital epidemiologists often analyze processes requiring robust quality control measures.
• Statistical quality control (SQC) principles can enhance understanding and application in epidemiological contexts.
• This series aims to foster interdisciplinary knowledge sharing between quality engineering and epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the foundational concepts of quality engineering and statistical process control (SPC).
• To illustrate the application of SPC tools, specifically common control charts, in healthcare settings.
• To bridge the gap between statistical quality control methodologies and epidemiological practices.

Main Methods:

• Overview of quality engineering principles and their relevance to healthcare processes.
• Explanation and illustration of various types of statistical control charts.
• Focus on conceptual understanding and practical examples, minimizing complex mathematical derivations.

Main Results:

• Provides a non-mathematical introduction to SPC for hospital epidemiologists.
• Demonstrates the utility of control charts in monitoring and improving healthcare processes.
• Lays the groundwork for advanced SPC applications in infection control discussed in Part II.

Conclusions:

• Statistical process control offers valuable tools for hospital epidemiologists to enhance process monitoring.
• Understanding SPC principles can lead to improved quality and efficiency in healthcare settings.
• This introductory article serves as a foundation for applying SPC in epidemiological surveillance and infection control.