Quality improvement strategies in medical oncology: A qualitative analysis from a scoping review.

Abstract

203 Background: In 2001, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) outlined imperatives to improve quality of care. Quality improvement (QI) has since become essential to cancer care but barriers still exist to the publication of and participation in QI initiatives, including limited recognition for QI and uncertainty with methodologies. We sought to identify strategies used in QI in scholarly medical oncology literature to provide practical guidance for QI. Methods: We conducted a scoping review using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. A search of EMBASE and MEDLINE databases found 48,186 unique English citations published between January 2001 and August 2014. We utilized an iterative process to refine the inclusion criteria and two reviewers independently reviewed abstracts, resulting in the inclusion of 270 articles. The reviewers then extracted text segments relevant to QI strategies. A qualitative content analysis approach was used to accurately analyze and summarize this process-oriented data. Results: Fifty-four unique QI strategies identified were used alone or in combination to improve structures or processes of care. Five content categories of strategies that targeted structures of care emerged: 1) more methodical approaches (eg, lean thinking, supply-demand analyses), 2) participatory action research and similar strategies, 3) infrastructure to promote health care provider collaboration, 4) application or improvement of information technology (IT), and 5) progression towards a systematic assessment of all patients’ needs. We identified three categories of QI strategies for processes of care: 1) improving patient-clinician relationships or communications, 2) care navigation, and 3) telehealth. Conclusions: Our review identifiedQI strategies in published literature. Strategies were consistent with and expanded on the IOM’s redesign imperatives such as effective use of IT, development of better teams, and care coordination. Identification of strategies provides professionals with tools to engage in QI and may encourage support and recognition for QI. Future studies should examine the impact of different QI strategies on outcomes of care in oncology.