Identify a quality improvement opportunity in your organization or practice. In a 1,250-1,500 word paper, describe the problem or issue and propose a quality improvement initiative based on evidence-based practice. Apply “The Road to Evidence-Based Practice” process, illustrated in Chapter 4 of your textbook (It’s in the attached file), to create your proposal. Include the following:
Identifying a quality improvement opportunity is an essential step in any organization or practice as it allows for the identification and resolution of problems or issues that hinder the delivery of high-quality care. In this paper, I will describe a quality improvement opportunity in my organization and propose a quality improvement initiative based on evidence-based practice.
The problem or issue in my organization is the high rate of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among patients admitted to our facility. HAIs are a significant concern in healthcare settings as they can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs (Allegranzi et al., 2011). Despite the implementation of infection control practices, our organization has observed an increase in HAIs, particularly surgical site infections (SSIs) and bloodstream infections (BSIs).
To address this problem, I propose a quality improvement initiative that focuses on improving hand hygiene compliance among healthcare providers. Hand hygiene is a fundamental measure to prevent the transmission of microorganisms and reduce the risk of HAIs (Boyce, 2020). Numerous studies have shown that improving hand hygiene compliance can significantly reduce the incidence of HAIs (Pittet et al., 2000; Erasmus et al., 2010).
To develop a quality improvement initiative based on evidence-based practice, I will apply “The Road to Evidence-Based Practice” process outlined in Chapter 4 of the textbook. This process involves six steps: asking the clinical question, collecting the most relevant and best evidence, critically appraising the evidence, integrating the evidence with clinical expertise, evaluating the outcomes of the practice decision or change, and disseminating the outcomes of the EBP process.
Step one of the process is asking the clinical question. The clinical question for this quality improvement initiative is, “Does implementing a hand hygiene education program for healthcare providers improve hand hygiene compliance and reduce the incidence of HAIs in our organization?”
Step two involves collecting the most relevant and best evidence to answer the clinical question. A literature search will be conducted to identify studies that have explored the effectiveness of hand hygiene education programs in improving compliance and reducing HAIs. Electronic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library will be searched using keywords such as “hand hygiene,” “education program,” “compliance,” and “hospital-acquired infections.”
In step three, the identified evidence will be critically appraised. The appraised evidence will include randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that evaluate the impact of hand hygiene education programs on compliance and HAI rates. The quality and validity of the studies will be assessed using critical appraisal tools such as the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials (JBI, 2017).
Once the evidence is appraised, step four involves integrating the evidence with clinical expertise and organizational resources. In this step, the findings from the literature will be considered alongside the knowledge and expertise of healthcare providers in our organization. The aim is to develop an evidence-based hand hygiene education program that is feasible, practical, and tailored to our organization’s needs and resources.
Step five entails evaluating the outcomes of the proposed practice change. A plan for data collection and analysis will be developed to assess the impact of the hand hygiene education program on compliance rates and HAIs. This will involve measuring hand hygiene compliance through direct observation and monitoring the incidence of SSIs and BSIs through surveillance systems.
Finally, step six involves disseminating the outcomes of the evidence-based practice initiative. The findings of the evaluation will be shared with healthcare providers and stakeholders in our organization through presentations, reports, and staff meetings. This will allow for continued learning and improvement in hand hygiene practices within our organization.
In conclusion, the high rate of HAIs in my organization presents a quality improvement opportunity that can be addressed through evidence-based practice. By implementing a hand hygiene education program for healthcare providers, we aim to improve hand hygiene compliance and reduce the incidence of HAIs. Following “The Road to Evidence-Based Practice” process will ensure that our quality improvement initiative is grounded in the best available evidence and aligned with clinical expertise and organizational resources.