Succeeding Factors and Barriers to Implementing Quality Improvement Programs

Choi, Kui Son; Lee, Sun Hee; Cho, Woo-Hyun; Kang, Hye-Young; Chae, Yoo Mi

Journal of Korean Society Quality Assurance Health Care 2001;8(2): 146.
Published online December 30, 2001.

의료 질 향상 사업의 성공요인과 실패요인

최귀선¹, 이선희¹, 조우현², 강혜영³, 채유미¹

¹이화여자대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실
²연세대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실
³연세대학교 대학원 보건학과

Succeeding Factors and Barriers to Implementing Quality Improvement Programs

Kui Son Choi¹, Sun Hee Lee¹, Woo-Hyun Cho², Hye-Young Kang³, Yoo Mi Chae¹

¹Department of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine
²Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine
³Department of Public Health, The Graduate School, Yonsei University

Abstract

Background
To propose effective strategies for successful implementation of QI in health care institutions, by identifying facilitating factors and barriers to conducting QI programs.
Methods
In order to examine empirical evidence on the success factors or barriers to QI implementation in hospitals, a literature study was performed on the basis of MEDLINE search. Among the identified literature. 13 provided reliable findings and basis comprehensive discussion on this issue and thus were selected for in-depth analysis. A mailed questionnaire survey was conducted for hospital CEOs and QI directors of hospitals with 400 beds or greater to investigate what attributes of their organizations they perceived as success factors or obstacles to QI implementation.
Result
The analysis of selected literature and survey results presented that the primary factors considered to be most important as successful implementation of QI were: strong support from hospital CEOs, setting higher priority for QI activities, continuous and persistent efforts in QI activities, and active participation of clinical staffs. The barriers identified in this study were : the lack of orientation and understanding of QI concepts, low level of interest and participation of physician in QI programs, the lack of evaluation and rewarding system for QI activities.
Conclusion
By identifying factors that affect facilitation of QI, the study results will be of great use for either institutions being in the early stage of evolving QI or those looking for better strategies to achieve more active and persistent QI implementation in their institutions.

Key words quality improvement;barriers;success factors;