Improvement science: Education in Europe

Abstract

The improvement of healthcare quality and patient safety are imperative clinical targets valued by all healthcare professionals (HCP), but research in this field is insufficient. Applied to respiratory medicine, these techniques bring extra value on faster and more accurate management of tuberculosis or obstructive pathology. Romania unconsciously applied HIS-like techniques in TB management decreasing the incidence after 1990. During an European Project (ISTEW, 7 partners) was proposed the developing of shared academic and practice-based programs for Universities, in order to train HIS experts within their own healthcare workforce. We reviewed the available education in partners countries on current HIS education and training programs for HCP, searching 10 electronic databases on education published between 1980-2011,reviewed 367 studies and contacted 60 education providers. We gathered information on existing HIS courses currently being delivered, using the Bologna cycle descriptors and sent out 62 surveys attempting to identify the “hidden” courses. Specific search terms and template fields were applied. Most of the available relevant education was found within post-graduate programmes, countries that included HIS related education in undergraduate courses,targeted particular healthcare disciplines. Differences in keywords were also detected. In all partner countries we have found examples of HIS education but not found any that have a systematic approach to the development of HIS.These suggest the need to create a unified core curriculum that values each country9s educational experience and knowledge and is adaptable to the particular cultural, socio-economic and health challenges.