Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions



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CURRENT ISSUE BACK ISSUES SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISE ABOUT JCEHP FOR AUTHORS JCEHP AWARD SEARCH		Volume 28 (3) Volume 28, Issue 3, Summer 2008 J Contin Educ Health Prof 2008; 28(3):131 RESEARCH ARTICLE Structured intervention utilizing state professional societies to foster quality improvement in practice Suzanne Lazorick, Virginia L. H. Crowe, Judith C. Dolins, Carole M. Lannon A b s t r a c t Introduction: Despite the existence of guidelines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), clinical practices vary substantially. Practitioners can apply quality improvement (QI) strategies to adapt office processes and clinical practice towards evidence-based care. We identified facilitators and barriers to participation in a professional society–-ed structured collaborative to learn QI methods and improve care. Methods: Ten chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics participated in the effort. Support to chapter leaders included conference calls, listserv, technical support, and data aggregation. Support from the chapters to participating pediatricians included online continuing medical education modules, a workshop, chart reviews, and QI coaching. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews of 22 project leaders and reviews of project progress reports. Quantitative results were obtained from surveys of 186 physician participants. Outcomes included facilitators/ barriers to program implementation, evidence for sustained chapter QI infrastructure, and participant assessment of improvements in care. Results: Facilitators included physician opinion leaders, a workshop, conference calls, QI support, and opportunities for shared learning. Barriers included lack of time, competing clinical priorities, challenges of using the online module, and underutilization of listservs. Seven chapters planned ongoing activities around attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eight had specific plans to use QI infrastructure for additional clinical topics, and three developed significant QI infrastructure. Physicians believed care improved. Discussion: As requirements grow for participation in QI for maintenance of certification, national and state-level professional societies are interested in and can develop infrastructure to support quality improvement. Coaching, tools, and support from the national organization and QI experts are helpful in facilitating efforts. Key Words: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), quality improvement, professional society, online education, medical, continuing, Maintenance of Certification Lessons for Practice Current clinical practice styles do not readily accommodate participation in quality improvement efforts. Measurement in practice is a new concept, and education and technical support will be needed to make it more feasible. Professional organizations, such as the AAP, can lead efforts for teaching quality improvement strategies. Incorporating opportunities for shared learning enhances education in quality improvement methods Applying quality improvement methods can improve self-assessment of guideline-based care for ADHD. A focused quality improvement effort can act as a catalyst for building infrastructure for future efforts. More study is needed to learn the most effective ways to incorporate online learning and electronic communication in quality improvement efforts.
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