Research and academic writing are necessities while conducting a quality improvement (QI) initiative to resolve patient complaints. Research, as defined by Hwang and Chien (2022), is a systematic investigation of a topic to gain knowledge that may be used to establish or modify hypotheses or theories. By contrast, quality improvement (QI) is an organized, continuing effort that yields noticeable improvements using already-tested methods and existing literature. If you want better results from your processes, QI can help you improve them via Research. Purpose This discussion is to look into the differences between Research and QI while offering a proposal for a Direct Practice Improvement (DPI) initiative.
Difference between Research and Quality Improvement
The primary distinction between Research and QI is that the former is question-driven, and the latter is data-driven. QI uses statistics to show persistent improvements, whereas Research seeks confirmation or refutation of a theory or inquiry. Evidence-based practice makes use of studies that all point to the same result. QI collects and analyzes data to determine how successful a result was.
Proposed DPI Project
Four main components will make up the proposed DPI project: a description of the patient issue, an explanation of why the project falls under QI rather than Research, a description of how the DPI addresses the issue through QI, and an assessment of the DPI’s suitability and feasibility at the project site.
Patient Problem
The DPI’s patient practice issue is decreasing the prevalence of HAPIs among the elderly residing in nursing homes with restricted mobility. Infections, sepsis, and even mortality may result from HAPIs, making them a significant problem for older people with mobility limitations. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) estimates that 2.5 million individuals in the United States suffer from HAPIs annually; these infections are linked to higher healthcare expenses, extended hospital stays, and even fatality (Padula & Delarmente, 2019).
Elderly patients with mobility issues are at a higher risk for HAPIs because they spend a disproportionate amount of time immobile, either in bed or on a chair. The National Practice Guideline for the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers (NPUAP) suggests that HAPIs may be avoided using pressure-relieving devices, regular skin care, and frequent repositioning (National Library of Medicine, 2018). High rates of HAPIs persist in long-term care settings, despite the availability of effective methods for reducing their occurrence.
As a result, the goal of the DPI project is to lower the incidence of HAPIs among the elderly and the physically impaired residents of nursing homes. Patients at risk for HAPIs will be identified, preventative measures will be implemented, and the project’s success will be measured by tracking the rate of HAPIs over time. Due to its focus on enhancing the quality of treatment for patients rather than expanding our understanding of the world or testing ideas, this initiative will be classified as a quality improvement rather than Research.
DPI Project is Quality Improvement and not Research
The DPI project is a quality improvement initiative, not a research study, to decrease the number of HAPIs in old, immobile patients in a nursing homes. The initiative aims to enhance patient outcomes using existing Research and evidence-based procedures rather than generate new knowledge or generalizable conclusions. This initiative aims to address the well-documented and widespread problem of HAPIs in the elderly, bedridden residents of long-term care institutions. Reduced rates of HAPIs due to the use of evidence-based methods are a primary focal area for better patient care.
Regular skin examinations, turning and repositioning schedules, and adequate support surfaces will all be part of the project’s procedures and recommendations for preventing HAPIs, which will be developed using evidence from previous studies. In order to gauge the efficacy of these measures and make any required modifications to enhance patient outcomes further, data will be gathered. This project is not a research study since it employs previous Research and evidence-based procedures to address a recognized problem and improve patient outcomes. Improving care for old, immobile people in a nursing home is more important than discovering something new or testing a theory.
DPI is addressed through Quality Improvement
In a long-term care facility, QI can help reduce the number of falls and other mobility-limiting injuries suffered by elderly patients. Consistent skin evaluations, repositioning, pressure redistribution surfaces, and staff and patient education will be part of the strategy. The frequency of HAPIs may be reduced by the standardization and regular use of these treatments (Miller et al., 2019). The incidence of HAPIs before and after the treatments are implemented will be the metric against which success will be judged. Implementing these measures is expected to reduce the number of APIs, which will enhance patients’ health and well-being. QI refers to using preexisting best practices and standards to better the quality of treatment for patients rather than generate new information via Research.
Appropriateness and Feasibility of the DPI Project
For senior patients in a long-term care facility with restricted mobility, the DPI initiative to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) is both possible and suitable. Given the prevalence of HAPIs in LTC settings, enhancing their prevention and treatment is an essential quality improvement objective. The initiative is practical since it would teach personnel to utilize existing medical institution resources, such as HAPI preventive methods and evaluation tools. Employees will be encouraged to record their HAPI prevention and management efforts in the electronic medical record (EMR) further to facilitate monitoring and assessment of the project’s efficacy. In addition, the initiative supports the hospital’s primary objectives of delivering excellent treatment and improving patient outcomes. Facility satisfaction and hospital costs may benefit from decreased HAPI rates.
References
Hwang, G.-J., & Chien, S.-Y. (2022). Definition, roles, and potential research issues of the metaverse in education: An artificial intelligence perspective. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 3, 100082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2022.100082
Miller, M. W., Emeny, R. T., & Freed, G. L. (2019). Reduction of Hospital-acquired Pressure Injuries Using a Multidisciplinary Team Approach: A Descriptive Study. Wounds: A Compendium of Clinical Research and Practice, 31(4), 108–113. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6586476/
National Library of Medicine. (2018, November 15). Preventing Pressure Ulcers. Nih.gov; Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326430/
Padula, W. V., & Delarmente, B. A. (2019). The national cost of hospital-acquired pressure injuries in the United States. International Wound Journal, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13071
write