5 Physician participation in quality improvement work interest and opportunity: a cross-sectional survey

• Published in: BMJ open quality 2022-07, Vol.11 (Suppl 2), p.A3-A3
• Main Author: Deilkås, Ellen Tveter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts; Medical research; Participation; Physicians; Quality improvement; Quality of care
• ISSN: 2399-6641
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-ISS.5

IntroductionLack of physician involvement threatens the success and sustainability of quality improvement work (QIW).1–3 Few studies have assessed physicians´ interests and opportunities to be involved in QIW. It is therefore important to do so, both in hospital and general practice.MethodsOur aim was to determine the prevalence of physicians reporting active participation in QIW and the prevalence reporting an interest (without participation) in QIW. To understand the potential for improvement, we also needed to assess whether physicians’ opportunity and designated time to participate in QIW had an effect on their interest and active participation in QIW. Our hypothesis was that designated time promotes participation in QIW. This resonates with Donabedians’ structure, process and outcome framework.4 We conducted a cross-sectional postal survey on a representative sample of physicians in different job positions in Norway in 2019.ResultsThe response rate was 72.6% (1513 of 2085). A large proportion (85.7%) wanted to participate in QIW, and 68.6% had actively done so in the last year. Physicians’ active participation in QIW was significantly related to the designated time for QIW in their work schedule (p