TY - JOUR
T1 - Implementation and evaluation of quality improvement training in surgery: A systematic review
AU - Pallari, Elena
AU - Khadjesari, Zarnie
AU - Aceituno, David
AU - Odhiambo, Catherine Anyango
AU - Warner, Ross
AU - Bastianpillai, Christopher
AU - Green, James S. A.
AU - Sevdalis, Nick
N1 - Funding: The study was funded by the Urology Foundation and the Schroder Foundation. NS’ research is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. NS is a member of King's Improvement Science, which offers co-funding to the NIHR ARC South London and comprises a specialist team of improvement scientists and senior researchers based at King's College London. Its work is funded by King's Health Partners (Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust), Guy's and St Thomas’ Charity and the Maudsley Charity. N.S.’ research is further supported by the ASPIRES research programme (Antibiotic use across Surgical Pathways - Investigating, Redesigning and Evaluating Systems), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. N.S. is further funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Health System Strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa, King's College London (GHRU 16/136/54) using UK aid from the UK Government to support global health research. Z.K.'s research is supported by the NIHR ARC East of England. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, the NHS, the ESRC, the charities, or the Department of Health and Social Care.
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review and appraise how quality improvement (QI) skills are taught to surgeons and surgical residents. BACKGROUND: There is a global drive to deliver capacity in undertaking QI within surgical services. However, there are currently no specifications regarding optimal QI content or delivery. METHODS: We reviewed QI educational intervention studies targeting surgeons or surgical trainees/residents published until 2017. Primary outcomes included teaching methods and training materials. Secondary outcomes were implementation frameworks and strategies used to deliver QI training successfully. RESULTS: There were 20,590 hits across 10 databases, of which 11,563 were screened following de-duplication. Seventeen studies were included in the final synthesis. Variable QI techniques (eg, combined QI models, process mapping, and "lean" principles) and assessment methods were found. Delivery was more consistent, typically combining didactic teaching blended with QI project delivery. Implementation of QI training was poorly reported and appears supported by collaborative approaches (including building learning collaboratives, and coalitions). Study designs were typically pre-/post-training without controls. Studies generally lacked clarity on the underpinning framework (59%), setting description (59%), content (47%), and conclusions (47%), whereas 88% scored low on psychometrics reporting. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that surgical QI training can focus on any well-established QI technique, provided it is done through a combination of didactic teaching and practical application. True effectiveness and extent of impact of QI training remain unclear, due to methodological weaknesses and inconsistent reporting. Conduct of larger-scale educational QI studies across multiple institutions can advance the field.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review and appraise how quality improvement (QI) skills are taught to surgeons and surgical residents. BACKGROUND: There is a global drive to deliver capacity in undertaking QI within surgical services. However, there are currently no specifications regarding optimal QI content or delivery. METHODS: We reviewed QI educational intervention studies targeting surgeons or surgical trainees/residents published until 2017. Primary outcomes included teaching methods and training materials. Secondary outcomes were implementation frameworks and strategies used to deliver QI training successfully. RESULTS: There were 20,590 hits across 10 databases, of which 11,563 were screened following de-duplication. Seventeen studies were included in the final synthesis. Variable QI techniques (eg, combined QI models, process mapping, and "lean" principles) and assessment methods were found. Delivery was more consistent, typically combining didactic teaching blended with QI project delivery. Implementation of QI training was poorly reported and appears supported by collaborative approaches (including building learning collaboratives, and coalitions). Study designs were typically pre-/post-training without controls. Studies generally lacked clarity on the underpinning framework (59%), setting description (59%), content (47%), and conclusions (47%), whereas 88% scored low on psychometrics reporting. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that surgical QI training can focus on any well-established QI technique, provided it is done through a combination of didactic teaching and practical application. True effectiveness and extent of impact of QI training remain unclear, due to methodological weaknesses and inconsistent reporting. Conduct of larger-scale educational QI studies across multiple institutions can advance the field.
KW - Education
KW - Effectiveness
KW - Implementation science
KW - Quality improvement
KW - Surgery
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121993641&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004751
DO - 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004751
M3 - Review article
VL - 274
SP - e489-e506
JO - Annals of Surgery
JF - Annals of Surgery
SN - 0003-4932
IS - 6
ER -