Training health professionals to implement quality improvement activities. Results of a randomized controlled trial after one year of follow-up

Abstract

Study objective: To test the advantages of training and of a trainee-centered educational strategy for the implementation of quality evaluation and improvement (QI) activities in Health Centres (HCs).

Design: Experimental, with random assignment of HCs to three different groups, two for two different training methods and one as control group. Each group had 10 HCs.

Setting: HCs network of the region of Murcia (Spain).

Study subjects: Selected PHC personnel, grouped by study groups.

Interventions: One of the groups (GI) received trainee-centered training on QI methods with problem-solving oriented methodology. A second group (GII) received more traditional training. The third group (GIII) received no training.

Measurements: 1. Knowledge test before and after the seminars. 2. Post-seminar survey to assess trainees' appraisal of the seminar experience and attitudes towards implementation of QI activities. 3. One year follow-up survey to assess actual implementation of QI activities and attitude towards more training.

Results: GI showed significantly higher scores than GII regarding both their subjective appraisal of the training experience, and actual implementation of activities. No QI activity was found in any GIII Center. We conclude that the importance of training in the implementation of QI activities has been confirmed, and also that training method does matter.