Topic 4 DQ 2
Describe the difference between research and quality improvement. Provide a workplace example where qualitative and quantitative research is applied and how it was used within your organization. When replying to peers, discuss how these research findings might be incorporated into a...
Describe the difference between research and quality improvement. Provide a workplace
example where qualitative and quantitative research is applied and how it was used within your
organization. When replying to peers, discuss how these research findings might be incorporated
into another health care setting.
The design of some QI projects may be similar to clinical research but the focus and goals of the
study differ. QI projects work to make the system better, more cost-effective, increase productivity,
and create continual gains in an identified process. The QI project is directed to specific processes
or practice within the organization and is intended to advance the operation of the system in the
organizational environment. Because of the nature of QI studies, participant protections are more
easily addressed. QI investigators in health care frequently collect primary data from volunteer
participants using anonymous surveys. QI project teams stringently adhere to confidentiality of
patient data. Because QI projects examine internal processes and work to generate solutions to
process problems, the new knowledge generated is specific to that organization or system and not
generalizable. QI projects have a limited audience. The project results are intended for individuals
internal to the organization rather than the scientific community at large.
The hallmark of research is the process of generating new scientific knowledge. Whether the research
has a quantitative or qualitative focus, it is characterized by a design to test a hypothesis or expand
current knowledge. The products of research are focused in a way as to generalize to other similar
patients and settings so the results are expected to be presented, published, or otherwise disseminated
to consumers or the scientific community. The design of the research includes a scientific framework
and control of variables. Because of benefits and risks inherent in research, proposals must be
reviewed by an institutional review board (IRB) and approved before research begins.
QI provides steps to assess, plan, implement change, and evaluate results connected to an
organizational process, which reflects an internal organizational concern. Research, on the other
hand, is focused on gaining new knowledge, within a scientific framework (Reinhardt & Ray, 2003).
Examples of potential nursing research include conducting a systematic review of studies on
preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), a randomized controlled trial
exploring new wound care methods, and a qualitative study to investigate the lived experiences
of patients with a specific chronic disease (Conner, 2014).
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