Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

Does Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) improve the quality of health care? Developing a framework to improve our ability to understand and measure the effect of CQI.

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) has been widely adopted in health care with the promise of bringing about substantial and sustained improvement in the quality of care. However, this investment has been made in the absence of convincing evidence from existing research on whether CQI is effective or the factors that might influence its effect. The uptake of CQI in the absence of evidence reflects both the complexity of undertaking rigorous research on quality improvement interventions and the compelling case that has been made for using CQI based on theory and practical experience.

The overall aim of this project is to develop a research framework that will improve our ability to understand and measure the effect of CQI on health care delivery and patient outcomes. It is hoped that this framework will contribute to the conduct of rigorous research that will help inform decisions about whether ongoing investment in CQI is justified.

This project is partially funded by a Monash University Strategic Grant awarded by Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (Jan-Dec 2006).

Centre staff involved in the project:
Associate Professor Sally Green
Sue Brennan – Doctoral Candidate

Collaborators:
Professor Just Stoelwinder, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
Professor Leon Piterman, School of Primary Health Care
Dr Heather Buchan, CEO National Institute of Clinical Studies

Contact:
sue.brennan@med.monash.edu.au; phone 03 9594 7566