Implementation of (Plan-Do-Check-Act) Process of Quality and Measuring its Effect on Nurses' Practice of Patient Safety Goals

Abstract

Background: Implementing PDCA (plan- do- check – act) management can improve patient safety and satisfaction. Head nurse should create and maintain their safety management to increase quality of nursing practices regarding patient safety goals practice. The aim of the study was to investigate effect of head nurses' and staff nurses' use of PDCA on their patient safety practices.Design: One group pre-post assessment is used to carry out this study.Subjects: Two study subjects – head and staff nurses‟.Setting: The study was conducted at inpatient units in Nasser institute hospital, which affiliated to Specialized Medical Centers of ministry of health. Tools of data collection: four tools were used for collecting data.Namely:Patient safety and PDCA knowledge questionnaire for head nurses and staff nurses, Observation checklist for performance of PDCA process related to patient safety goals for head nurses and staff nurses. Result:head nurses‟:all head nurses had low satisfaction with patient safety .both before and after the intervention.none of head nurses had total adequate practice of PDCA before the intervention, which increased to 86.7% after intervention (p<0.001).The intervention, was a significant positive predictor of practice scores, whereas age, experience in current department, and attendance of infection control courses were negative predictors.Staff nurses: none of the staff nurses had satisfactory knowledge of patient safety before intervention, compared to after intervention (p<0.001).No staff nurse had adequate practice of PDCA 'before Intervention, compared to after intervention (p<0. 001).Conclusion:both head nurses and staff nurses in study settinghad deficient knowledge and practice of PDCA as applied to patient safety goals.Recommendations: The PDCA quality improvement cycle should be implemented in patient safety as well as in various areas of patient care. The training program should be applied to all head and staff nurses in study setting, and should be extended to other similar setting. Creating and sustaining a culture of quality improvement by using PDCA cycle.