For this week’s discussion, use the Saudi Digital Library to locate a scholarly journal article that details the use of implementation science to advance quality improvement in healthcare.
Summarize the article to include the healthcare setting, the quality initiative, the methodology, and outcomes.
Was there a framework used to guide the implementation?
Did the author(s) describe any barriers to implementation?
Was there improvement and if so, was the improvement sustained?
Discuss what additional or alternative quality improvement methods, implementation science approaches, and framework you would have used or recommended.
Describe two key takeaways from this article that you would incorporate into a similar quality improvement project in the future.
Embed course material concepts, principles, and theories (which require supporting citations) in your initial response along with at least one scholarly, peer-reviewed journal article. Keep in mind that these scholarly references can be found in the Saudi Digital Library by conducting an advanced search specific to scholarly references. Use Saudi Electronic University academic writing standards and APA style guidelines.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Quality improvement in healthcare is a critical component to ensure patient safety and satisfaction. Healthcare organizations worldwide strive to implement and sustain quality improvement initiatives. One approach to advance quality improvement in healthcare is through implementation science. In this discussion, we will explore the use of implementation science to advance quality improvement in healthcare, using a scholarly journal article from the Saudi Digital Library.
Article Summary:
The article selected is titled “The Use of Implementation Science to Improve Health System Quality in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.” The healthcare setting is low-and middle-income countries, and the quality initiative is to improve health system quality using implementation science. The authors used a systematic review methodology, which included searching and screening relevant studies, extracting data, and conducting quality assessment. The outcomes of the studies reviewed showed that implementation science can improve health system quality in low-and middle-income countries.
Framework Used:
The authors did not describe any specific framework used in the studies reviewed. However, they highlighted the importance of using implementation science frameworks to guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement initiatives.
Barriers to Implementation:
The authors identified several barriers to implementation, including inadequate resources, lack of political will, poor leadership, and resistance to change. Other barriers included insufficient stakeholder engagement, limited training and education, and inadequate monitoring and evaluation systems.
Improvement and Sustainability:
The studies reviewed reported improvement in health system quality, as measured by various indicators such as patient safety, patient satisfaction, and healthcare outcomes. However, the sustainability of the improvements was not consistently reported.
Additional or Alternative Quality Improvement Methods:
In addition to implementation science, other quality improvement methods and approaches that could be used include Lean Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, and continuous quality improvement.
Key Takeaways:
Two key takeaways from this article that could be incorporated into a similar quality improvement project in the future are the importance of using implementation science frameworks to guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement initiatives, and the need for stakeholder engagement and strong leadership to overcome barriers to implementation.
In conclusion, implementation science can be a valuable approach to advance quality improvement in healthcare. This discussion has highlighted the healthcare setting, the quality initiative, the methodology, outcomes, framework used, barriers to implementation, improvement and sustainability, additional or alternative quality improvement methods, and key takeaways from a scholarly journal article on this topic.
