Describe the difference between research and quality improvement

Provide a workplace example where qualitative and quantitative research is applied and how it was used within your organization. When replying to peers, discuss how these research findings might be incorporated into another health care setting.

Reply 1

Research is a systematic study that aims to increase knowledge and understanding about a particular variable studied, for example, determining how effective a drug is based on a therapeutic result. On the other hand, quality improvement involves a systematic collection of data and statistics to improve healthcare outcomes (Al-Surimi, 2018). An example of such redesigning systems in the healthcare setting to determine the effect on healthcare outcomes. Research primarily follows a specific chronological order with a fixed hypothesis and assesses the study’s effectiveness through data analysis. Conversely, quality improvement has a flexible hypothesis, which variates as the survey continues (Al-Surimi, 2018). Quality improvement is mainly aimed at providing safe, effective, timely, and patient-centered care. In contrast, the main aim of a research undertaking is to determine the usefulness and utility of a medication given to patients (Al-Surimi, 2018).

Workplace Example

Qualitative research can be used to examine healthcare professionals’ change in behavior concerning difficulties and barriers they experience while delivering care to patients, whose findings are usually in words to be interpreted. On the other hand, quantitative research collects statistical information concerning a healthcare determinant, enabling empirical investigation (Rutberg & Bouikidis, 2018). In the surgical unit, we conducted qualitative and quantitative research on healthcare professionals to determine why physicians frequently got infections. From the data collected, it was discovered that it was due to lack of enough physicians’ gloves and washing stations. When this data was represented on a graph, a bigger percentage of participants complained of a lack of a washing station. This information was used for quality improvement in the facility, and more cleaning stations were put in place to ensure physicians practice regular handwashing hygiene

References

Al-Surimi, K. (2018). Research versus quality improvement in healthcare.

Rutberg, S., & Bouikidis, C. D. (2018). Focusing on the fundamentals: A simplistic differentiation between qualitative and quantitative research. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 45(2), 209-213

Reply 2

The purpose of performing research is to find new knowledge about the effect of a medicine, treatment, or procedure. Health care providers and health care organizations collect data for several different reasons. Data collection is performed to meet the requirements of mandatory reporting by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Data are also collected for quality improvement, and data are collected for research purposes. If data are collected for research purposes, different procedures are required. For health care, data collection for quality can be done without acquiring approval or consent, which is required for research studies.

Quality Improvement (QI) is data-driven and usually done to improve the quality of care provided to patients. QI may benefit a process, system, and possibly the patient. QI, as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services (2011), consists of “systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in health services and the health status of targeted patient groups” (p. 1). When health care providers and nurses carry out a QI project, it may not be the implementation of something new, but an improvement upon something already in place. QI takes a team to produce results. A QI project does not subject the participant to any risk, and the participant may not even be aware of being involved in a QI project. The QI project usually occurs at the facility where the problem was found. Monthly data are collected regarding patient safety at most facilities. Facilities include health care institutions such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term facilities, clinics, and doctors’ offices (Helbig 2018).

In dialysis, we have the IDT that uses qualitative and quantitative research to review methods of modality, patient and family knowledge of hemodialysis. To Measure support and focus on patient and family preparation, knowledge of different modalities and the lifestyle implications of different modality choices. Home hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis.

Reference

Helbig, (June 2018.) Applied Statistics in Healthcare. Statistical Analysis. Retrieved from: https//www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/grand-canyon-university/2018/applied-statistcis-for-heatlh-care_1e.php