Module Components

• Overview
• Learning Activity

NURS 834 - Translating Evidence to Practice

Module 8: Understanding Variation and Identifying Quality Indicators

Select a quality indicator

It is helpful to use an implementation science framework or model to guide the process of selecting quality indicators.  A process or healthcare outcome measure providing a clear description of the measure of interest and how data should be collected and reported for this measure.

How to select the measure:

1. Review evidence to identify existing indicators and examine the strength and evidence of these indicators
   
2. Indicators can be identified using knowledge synthesis
   
3. Consider whether the measure is reliable (reproducible) and valid (whether it measures what it is intended to measure), but also acceptable to the needs of the project stakeholders and the goals of the gap assessment.

How can we measure the know-do gap?

• Can be informed by a wide range of data sources
  
  • Needs assessment with key stakeholders (e.g. interviews, focus groups)
    
  • Patient level or clinical-level administrative data sets
    
  • Direct observation
    
  • Chart/audit data
    
• If possible multiple sources of data can be collected to obtain understanding of the practice gap depending on burden.

Why do gaps exist?

• When assessing a gap, it is important to assess not only what is being done compared to ideal practice by also why these actions exist.
  
• Gaps may exist because new evidence needs to be implemented, de-implemented, or processes need to be improved.