The concept of improvement science recently emerged to provide a framework for research focused on healthcare improvement: the primary goal of this scientific field is to determine which improvement strategies work to assure effective and safe patient care.
A recent interesting article, written by Skela-Savič, Macrae, Lillo-Crespo and Rooney, entitled “The development of a consensus definition for healthcare improvement science (HIS) in seven European countries: A consensus methods approach” is focused upon the searching of a common definition for the healthcare improvement science, utilising the consensus method, especially the Delphi process (a Delphi study is a robust method that draws on expert opinions, and compares them with the combined opinions of other participating experts over several rounds, until a consensus on specified criteria is reached.)
A total of 18 participants were involved in the group and 153 answers were analysed as a part of the survey. Participants were researchers, educators and healthcare professionals from Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Italy, England, Poland, and Romania.
The process of developing a consensus definition revealed different understandings of healthcare improvement science among the participants. A high level of consensus was achieved for the broad definition in the 2nd Delphi iteration (86%). The final definition was agreed on by the consensus group:
Healthcare improvement science is the generation of knowledge to cultivate change and deliver person-centred care that is safe, effective, efficient, equitable and timely. It improves patient outcomes, health system performance and population health.
The consensus method approach was pertinent to unify the new concept from multidisciplinary, interprofessional and multicultural perspectives.
Resist the temptation to jump straight in with a proposal. Instead make some mental space to hear what other people think. If proposals are based on an understanding of everyone’s needs and wants then it is much more likely that people will support it. Putting forward a proposal too early is rarely a short-cut in an important discussion! Instead, it can waste time with everyone debating the ins and outs of an option that was never going to work, because it wasn’t based on full information about everyone’s needs.
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And Happy New Year!