Quality Gap Research Articles

Closing the gap in maternal health access and quality through targeted investments in low-resource settings

Closing the gap in maternal health access and quality through targeted investments in low-resource settings

Mothers' experiences and perceptions about care provided during home deliveries in Alwa sub county, Kaberamaido district, Uganda- a qualitative study.

In Uganda 27% of deliveries take place outside a health facility. The existing gaps in quality of maternal and newborn health care must be addressed for Uganda to attain its health targets and consequently its economic targets. Some of the gaps include but are not limited to; ill-equipped healthcare facilities in rural settings, inadequate client/customer care skills by healthcare providers, and health worker absenteeism especially in the night hours. In Kaberamaido District, only 38.3% of the deliveries in Alwa sub county took place at a health facility. Despite the district local government and stakeholder efforts to promote health facility-based deliveries, sadly, a very low proportion of women use the health facilities for delivery. We sought to explore mothers' experiences and perceptions about care provided during home deliveries in Alwa sub county, Kaberamaido district. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive qualitative design. We purposively included 115 mothers who delivered outside the health facility and consented to participate and those who lost their babies within the last 24 months preceding the study. Other participants included in the study were village health team (VHT), traditional birth attendants (TBA) and older women. The main instruments used to collect data were focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview (IDI) guides. All voice recordings from FGDs and interviews were transcribed and translated from the local language (Kumam) into English. Thematic content analysis was used to synthesize data by applying codes to segments of the transcripts upon which major domains were derived. Key findings were synthesized and quotes were carefully selected based on their relevance and representativeness to the analysis and study objective. Our findings indicated general satisfaction with the care provided during and after home delivery by TBAs as expressed by mothers. Motivation to seek services from TBAs was attributable to their vast experience spanning decades with history of safe delivery. Few mothers expressed discontent with TBA services citing abuse and rudeness. Our study underscored the common view that TBAs effectively managed home deliveries, providing satisfactory care to mothers. However, concerns emerged on TBAs' capacity to manage complications, emphasizing a need for their reintegration into formal healthcare systems, alongside further training, and standardization in maternal care practices.

Community engagement in maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR): Realist review protocol

Background: While there has been a decline in maternal and perinatal mortality, deaths remain high in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. With the sustainable development goals (SDGs) targets to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality, more needs to be done to accelerate progress and improve survival. Maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) is a strategy to identify the clinical and social circumstances that contribute to maternal and perinatal deaths. Through MPDSR, an active surveillance and response cycle is established by bringing together different stakeholders to review and address these social and clinical factors. Community engagement in MPDSR provides a strong basis for collective action to address social factors and quality of care issues that contribute to maternal and perinatal deaths. Studies have shown that community members can support identification and reporting of maternal and/or perinatal deaths. Skilled care at birth has been increasing globally, but there are still gaps in quality of care. Through MPDSR, community members can collaborate with health workers to improve quality of care. But we do not know how community engagement in MPDSR works in practice; for whom it works and what aspects work (or do not work) and why. This realist review answers the question: which strategies of community engagement in MPDSR produce which outcomes in which contexts? Methods: For this realist review, we will identify published and grey literature by searching relevant databases for articles. We will include papers published from 2004 in all languages and from all countries. We have set up an advisory group drawn from academia, international organizations, and practitioners of both MPDSR and community engagement to guide the process. Conclusion: This protocol and the subsequent realist review will use theoretical approaches from the community engagement literature to generate theory on community engagement in MPDSR. Prospero registration number: CRD42022345216

Hearing the voices of adolescents: Evaluating the quality of care for young adults with chronic illnesses in the UAE

BackgroundQuality care for adolescents and young adults with chronic illnesses has been under-explored in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and internationally, especially from patients' perspectives. Most available international studies focused on quality of life and the transition to adulthood rather than service quality. AimThis research assesses care quality for adolescents with chronic illnesses in the UAE, aiming to understand their perspectives, appraise current practices, and identify service gaps. MethodsA cross-sectional survey employed a validated questionnaire examining 33 essential care components. Participants comprised 576 adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions from five UAE Emirates. ResultsParticipant's reports indicated that none of the 33 care elements were received consistently. Most participants (80.6%) reported crucial care aspects were absent, and across most investigated items, 19.4%–46.5% of participants reported receiving the services they were supposed to receive only some or many of the times, indicating significant areas for improvement. ConclusionsFindings demonstrate significant care quality gaps for UAE's adolescents and young adults with chronic illnesses. These may critically affect their ability to manage their conditions and ensure holistic growth. These insights can guide healthcare enhancements tailored to this demographic. Practice implicationsThere is an urgency for enhanced patient-centered care in UAE healthcare, emphasizing clinicians' roles in supporting adolescents with chronic illnesses, especially during transitions. Healthcare managers should prioritize standardized care policies, improved communication, and training that emphasizes consistent patient feedback and transition readiness. Further research into care gaps and tailored interventions within the region's distinct sociocultural setting is essential.

191P Novel approach to proficiency testing demonstrates wide gaps in biomarker quality for colon cancer treatment

191P Novel approach to proficiency testing demonstrates wide gaps in biomarker quality for colon cancer treatment

Integration of Cirrhosis Best Practices Into Electronic Medical Record Documentation Associated With Reduction in 30-Day Mortality Following Hospitalization.

Hospital admissions for patients with cirrhosis continue to increase. In New York City, 25% to 30% of hospitalized cirrhotics are readmitted within 30 days. Rehospitalization is associated with increased mortality, poor quality of life, and financial burden to patients, hospitals, and payers. Preventable readmissions are partially accounted for by a well-documented quality gap between evidence-based guidelines for cirrhosis management and real-world adherence to these recommendations. We performed a prospective cohort study that compared outcomes among cirrhotic patients admitted to 4 internal medicine teams over a 6-month period. An electronic medical record (EMR) note template that outlined best-practice measures for cirrhotics was developed. Inpatient providers on 2 teams were instructed to include it in daily progress notes and discharge summaries. The recommended practices included diagnostic paracentesis and diuretics for ascites, rifaximin, and lactulose for hepatic encephalopathy, beta blockers for esophageal varices, and antibiotic prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The remaining 2 teams continued the standard of care for cirrhotic patients. The primary outcome was 30-day readmissions. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, length of stay, and adherence to best-practice guidelines. Over a 6-month period, 108 cirrhotic patients were admitted, 83 in the interventional group and 25 in the control group. MELD-Na scores on admission did not differ between the groups (20.1 vs. 21.1, P=0.56). Thirty-day readmissions were not significantly different between the interventional and control groups (19.3% vs. 24%, P=0.61). However, 30-day mortality was significantly lower in the interventional group (8.4% vs. 28%, P=0.01). There was no difference between the 2 groups in in-hospital mortality (4.8% vs. 0%, P=0.27), 90-day mortality (15.7% vs. 28.0%, P=0.17) or length of stay (10.2 vs. 12.6d, P=0.34). Adherence to best-practice metrics was similar between the groups, except for rates of diagnostic paracentesis, which were higher in the interventional group (98% vs. 80%, P=0.01). Implementation of an EMR note template with cirrhosis best practices was associated with lower 30-day mortality and higher rates of diagnostic paracentesis among admitted patients with cirrhosis. These findings suggest that the integration of best-practice measures into the EMR may improve outcomes in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. Larger studies are required to validate these findings.

Product line design and introduction strategies for crowdfunding in presence of social learning

Crowdfunding has emerged as a popular and efficient digital financing method. This paper investigates the product line design and introduction strategy of crowdfunding products in the presence of social learning when consumers are uncertain about their quality preferences and are allowed to return products. The results reveal that the consumer preference level and the preference level gap between high- and low-type consumers impact the optimal introduction strategy. Specifically, under the high-quality products’ first sequential introduction strategy, the optimal quality and pricing decision of low-quality products are similar to the results of classical product line design in that the gap between optimal prices for the product line increases with the consumers’ high- and low-quality preference levels and the proportion of high-quality preference consumers in the high-segment market. However, when introducing low-quality products first, the quality gap for the product line decreases in low-quality preference levels. Besides, the introduction strategy for menu crowdfunding products mainly depends on consumers’ quality preference levels and the gap between high- and low-quality preference levels. Finally, social learning can greatly alleviate consumers’ uncertainty about product preferences, reduce return rates, and bring greater profits to creators. It has a significant positive effect on creators than without social learning. The findings of this paper have essential implications for crowdfunding product design and introduction strategy in the presence of social learning and consumer uncertainty.

AI-Enabled Mental Health Assessment and Intervention: Bridging Gaps in Access and Quality of Care.

This paper explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing mental health assessment and intervention, aiming to address critical gaps in both accessibility and quality of care. Mental health disorders pose a global challenge, with a significant portion of the population facing barriers to timely and effective treatment. Traditional mental health care systems often struggle to meet the increasing demand for services, leading to prolonged waiting times and inadequate support for individuals in distress. Moreover, stigmas surrounding mental health further hinder many from seeking help. The advent of AI technologies offers a promising solution to these challenges. Through advanced machine learning algorithms, AI can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of mental health assessments, enabling early detection of disorders and personalized treatment plans. [1] AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants can provide continuous, accessible support, offering a bridge to care for individuals who may be hesitant or unable to access traditional services. Furthermore, these technologies can help destigmatize mental health discussions by providing a private and non-judgmental space for users. The paper reviews the current landscape of AI applications in mental health, highlighting successful case studies and identifying key ethical considerations. It also delves into the potential pitfalls and challenges associated with AI implementation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balance between technological advancement and human-centric care. Ethical considerations, privacy concerns, and the need for ongoing human oversight are crucial elements in ensuring the responsible deployment of AI in mental health contexts. As AI continues to evolve, it is imperative to establish robust frameworks for regulation, accountability, and transparency to safeguard against unintended consequences. The paper concludes by proposing a holistic approach that integrates AI seamlessly into existing mental health care infrastructures, fostering collaboration between technology developers, mental health professionals, and policymakers to create a future where AI contributes significantly to bridging gaps in access and elevating the overall quality of mental health care.

A dataset of carbon and water fluxes in the Changling alkali-saline paddy rice fields in the Songnen Plain, China (2018 –2020)

Compared with other terrestrial natural ecosystems, the land-atmosphere interaction in managed farmland ecosystem is more complex and changeable, due to the effect of crop types, cropping pattern, management practices, etc. As one of the most effective measures against the process of land alkalization and salinization in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China, paddy rice planting after desalination highly representative model for studying climate mitigation, water use and carbon balance. To support this approach effectively, it requires comprehensive field monitoring data. The eddy covariance method, grounded in micrometeorological theory, is widely recognized as the primary and direct approach for measuring CO2 and H2O exchanges in farmland ecosystems. This dataset comprises field measurements of Changling alkali-saline paddy rice during 2018–2020 subjected to rigorous quality control and gap filling in accordance with the ChinaFLUX data processing criteria. The dataset specifically includes half-hourly, daily, monthly and yearly scales of air temperature (Ta), air relative humidity (RH), water vapor pressure (e), saturated water vapor pressure (es), soil temperature (Ts), soil water content (SWC), net radiation (Rn) with four components, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), rainfall (P), wind speed (Ws), wind direction (Wd), sensible heat flux (Hs), latent heat flux (LE), evapotranspiration (ET), net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), ecosystem respiration (Re), gross ecosystem exchange (GEE), etc. The establishment and sharing of this dataset can offer valuable data support and a solid theoretical foundation for regional farmland ecosystem assessment and management.

Parenthood and Job Quality: Is There a Motherhood Penalty in the UK?

Current research recognises the role of parenthood in contributing to gender inequalities at work. Meanwhile, there is a growing interest in job quality. We contribute to both these debates by analysing differences in job quality by gender and parenthood status, using data from a nationally representative UK household survey. We develop a 12-indicator, multi-dimensional measure of job quality and use this to analyse the combination and distribution of job quality attributes by gender and parenthood status. Our analysis shows that women and mothers are under-represented in high quality jobs and over-represented in poor quality jobs. While some mothers sacrifice career prospects for flexibility, motherhood is not always associated with more flexibility, and job quality disadvantages are multi-faceted. Working part time is a strong driver of job quality differences, suggesting that reduced hours after motherhood impacts on job quality in addition to worsening women’s pay. Job quality gaps are larger for mothers of school-aged children, pointing to the additional constraints of managing work and childcare around the school day.

Optimizing inpatient bed management in a rural community-based hospital: a quality improvement initiative

BackgroundAppropriate use of available inpatient beds is an ongoing challenge for US hospitals. Historical capacity goals of 80% to 85% may no longer serve the intended purpose of maximizing the resources of space, staff, and equipment. Numerous variables affect the input, throughput, and output of a hospital. Some of these variables include patient demand, regulatory requirements, coordination of patient flow between various systems, coordination of processes such as bed management and patient transfers, and the diversity of departments (both inpatient and outpatient) in an organization.MethodsMayo Clinic Health System in the Southwest Minnesota region of the US, a community-based hospital system primarily serving patients in rural southwestern Minnesota and part of Iowa, consists of 2 postacute care and 3 critical access hospitals. Our inpatient bed usage rates had exceeded 85%, and patient transfers from the region to other hospitals in the state (including Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota) had increased. To address these quality gaps, we used a blend of Agile project management methodology, rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and a proactive approach to patient placement in the medical-surgical units as a quality improvement initiative.ResultsDuring 2 trial periods of the initiative, the main hub hospital (Mayo Clinic Health System hospital in Mankato) and other hospitals in the region increased inpatient bed usage while reducing total out-of-region transfers.ConclusionOur novel approach to proactively managing bed capacity in the hospital allowed the region’s only tertiary medical center to increase capacity for more complex and acute cases by optimizing the use of historically underused partner hospital beds.

Improving Crop Health, Performance, and Quality in Organic Spring Wheat Production: The Need to Understand Interactions between Pedoclimatic Conditions, Variety, and Fertilization

Organic wheat production systems have lower yields compared with intensive conventional production and often do not achieve the grain protein content and quality thresholds set by millers and bakers. In contrast, organic production methods were reported to result in higher concentrations of nutritionally desirable micronutrients and lower concentrations of the toxic metal Cd in wheat grain and wholegrain flour. However, although N-availability and variety characteristics are known to affect both gain yields and bread-making quality, the exact reasons for the yield gap and differences in grain processing and nutritional quality between organic and conventional spring wheat production in the UK are poorly understood. The overall aim of this study was therefore to determine to what extent changes in variety choice and fertilization regimes may reduce the yield gap and improve processing quality without affecting nutritional quality in organic spring wheat production. To achieve this aim, we compared crop health, yield, grain processing, and nutritional quality parameters in spring wheat produced using (i) six contrasting spring wheat varieties grown with a standard fertilization regime and (ii) one variety widely used by organic farmers (Paragon) with nine different fertilization regimes in (iii) three UK sites/farms with contrasting pedoclimatic conditions. Significant differences in foliar disease severity, grain yield, and quality parameters were detected between six contrasting spring wheat varieties when grown under organic management regimes. Specifically, the varieties Paragon and Tybalt were identified as the best-performing varieties with respect to foliar disease resistance and grain yield under organic farming conditions and also produced high processing and nutritional quality across the three UK sites. However, the highest grain yields were obtained by Paragon at the Gilchester site and Tybalt at the Sheepdrove and Courtyard sites, while the highest protein contents were produced by Tybalt at the Gilchester site and Paragon at the Sheepdrove and Courtyard sites, which suggests that there is a need for site-specific wheat variety selection in the UK organic sector. Although organic fertilizer input type and level also affected wheat performance, differences between fertilization regimes were smaller than those observed between the five contrasting varieties, which suggests that improvements in spring wheat breeding/selection have a greater potential for increasing crop yield and quality in the organic sector compared with changes to fertilization practices. Overall, results suggest it is feasible to breed/select spring wheat varieties that combine high protein, vitamin E, and micronutrients with low toxic metal (Cd, Pb) concentrations when produced under organic farming conditions. These findings also support the hypothesis that differences in variety choice by organic and conventional farmers have contributed to the differences in nutritional quality between organic and conventional wheat products reported in previous studies.

Identifying quality gaps in tourism for people with disabilities: Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA)

The aim of the article is to assess the significance (importance) and level of inconvenience of selected attributes of tourist services provided at particular stages of the supply chain in tourism (information, accommodation, transport, organization and intermediation) in relation to people with various types and degrees of disability. The survey conducted among the disabled helped to identify quality gaps in the provision of tourism services, taking into account their complementarity and accessibility at every stage of delivery. The method of Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and basic measures of descriptive statistics were used to analyze empirical data. The study will help to indicate to what extent the tourist experience of a disabled person and the type of disability affect the assessment of the significance (importance) and inconvenience of selected attributes of tourist services. The results of the research can be used by entrepreneurs to analyze the quality and reliability of services provided by their partners and the behavior and needs of the disabled in tourism. They will also be useful for local and regional authorities responsible for ensuring the competitiveness and inclusiveness of tourism regions.

Gaps in Contemporary Echocardiographic Reporting Quality for Mechanisms of Mitral Regurgitation: A Call to Action

Gaps in Contemporary Echocardiographic Reporting Quality for Mechanisms of Mitral Regurgitation: A Call to Action

Clinical decision support and electronic interventions to improve care quality in chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis.

Significant quality gaps exist in the management of chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Clinical decision support systems-information-driven tools based in and launched from the electronic health record-are attractive and potentially scalable prospective interventions that could help standardize clinical care in hepatology. Yet, clinical decision support systems have had a mixed record in clinical medicine due to issues with interoperability and compatibility with clinical workflows. In this review, we discuss the conceptual origins of clinical decision support systems, existing applications in liver diseases, issues and challenges with implementation, and emerging strategies to improve their integration in hepatology care.

Protecting traditional cultural food practices: Trends in diet quality and intake of ultra-processed foods by Indigenous status and race/ethnicity among a nationally representative sample of adults in Canada

BackgroundThe traditional cultural food practices of Indigenous people and adults from racial/ethnic minority groups may be eroded in the current food system where nutrient-poor and ultra-processed foods (UPF) are the most affordable and normative options, and where experiences of racism may promote unhealthy dietary patterns. We quantified absolute and relative gaps in diet quality and UPF intake of a nationally representative sample of adults in Canada by Indigenous status and race/ethnicity, and trends between 2004 and 2015. MethodsAdults (≥18 years) in the Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition self-reported Indigenous status and race/ethnicity and completed a 24-h dietary recall in 2004 (n = 20,880) or 2015 (n = 13,970) to calculate Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores from 0 to 100 and proportion of energy from UPF. Absolute and relative dietary gaps were quantified for Indigenous people and six racial/ethnic minority groups relative to White adults and trends between 2004 and 2015. ResultsAdults from all six racial/ethnic minority groups had higher mean HEI-2015 scores (58.7–61.9) than White (56.3) and Indigenous adults (51.9), and lower mean UPF intake (31.0%–41.0%) than White (45.9%) and Indigenous adults (51.9%) in 2015. As a result, absolute gaps in diet quality were positive and gaps in UPF intake were negative among racial/ethnic minority groups—indicating more favourable intakes—while the reverse was found among Indigenous adults. Relative dietary gaps were small. Absolute and relative dietary gaps remained largely stable. ConclusionsAdults from six racial/ethnic minority groups had higher diet quality and lower UPF intake, whereas Indigenous adults had poorer diet quality and higher UPF intake compared to White adults between 2004 and 2015. Absolute and relative dietary gaps remained largely stable. Findings suggest racial/ethnic minority groups may have retained some healthful aspects of their traditional cultural food practices while highlighting persistent dietary inequities that affect Canada's Indigenous people.

Welfare effects of introducing quality certification system for developing countries: Evidence from the Chinese experience*

This paper examines whether the quality-certification system might benefit developing economies while there is a widespread conjecture that the system might negatively affect technologically less developed economies. Based on a simple oligopoly model where a developing economy trades with an advanced economy that produces higher quality products, we demonstrate that the introduction of a quality certification system between technologically asymmetric countries might deteriorate the trade balance of the developing economy with the widened technology gap. In addition, we demonstrate that the empirical evidence from the Chinese experience of introducing a quality certification system for imported products from the EU supports the theoretical findings. That is, the imports from the EU to China have significantly increased with the increased quality gap after China introduced the quality certification system. The results implicate that the quality certification system might damage less developed economies when advanced economies hesitate technology transfer, and therefore, it is increasingly imperative to introduce an international coordination mechanism for active technology transfer when quality certification systems are introduced with respect to developing economies.

Missing occlusions: Quality gaps for ED patients with occlusion MI

BackgroundST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) guidelines encourage monitoring of false positives (Code STEMI without culprit) but ignore false negatives (non-STEMI with occlusion myocardial infarction [OMI]). We evaluated the hospital course of emergency department (ED) patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) using STEMI vs OMI paradigms. MethodsThis retrospective chart review examined all ACS patients admitted through two academic EDs, from June 2021 to May 2022, categorized as 1) OMI (acute culprit lesion with TIMI 0–2 flow, or acute culprit lesion with TIMI 3 flow and peak troponin I >10,000 ng/L; or, if no angiogram, peak troponin >10,000 ng/L with new regional wall motion abnormality), 2) NOMI (Non-OMI, i.e. MI without OMI) or 3) MIRO (MI ruled out: no troponin elevation). Patients were stratified by admission for STEMI. Initial ECGs were reviewed for automated interpretation of “STEMI”, and admission/discharge diagnoses were compared. ResultsAmong 382 patients, there were 141 OMIs, 181 NOMIs, and 60 MIROs. Only 40.4% of OMIs were admitted as STEMI: 60.0% had “STEMI” on ECG, and median door-to-cath time was 103 min (IQR 71–149). But 59.6% of OMIs were not admitted as STEMI: 1.3% had “STEMI” on ECG (p < 0.001) and median door-to-cath time was 1712 min (IQR 1043–3960; p < 0.001). While 13.9% of STEMIs were false positive and had a different discharge diagnosis, 32.0% of Non-STEMIs had OMI but were still discharged as “Non-STEMI.” ConclusionsSTEMI criteria miss a majority of OMI, and discharge diagnoses highlight false positive STEMI but never false negative STEMI. The OMI paradigm reveals quality gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Availability and quality of data related to cultural and linguistic diversity in the Victorian Suicide Register: A pilot study

ObjectiveWhile people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have been identified as a priority for suicide prevention in Australia, little is known about suicide in CALD communities. We aim to describe the availability and quality of CALD data in the Victorian Suicide Register (VSR). MethodsA retrospective consecutive case series review of suicides reported to the Coroners Court of Victoria during 2016 was conducted. Using the VSR, we identify suicides showing evidence of CALD identity and relevant variables were extracted and coded according to an adapted Australian Institute of Health and Welfare framework. ResultsDuring 2016, 126 of 652 suicides (19.3%, 95% confidence intervals 16.4-22.6) were flagged as showing evidence of CALD. The two most frequent CALD indicators for which information was recorded were country of birth and year of arrival. There was less information pertaining to citizenship, residency/visa status, preferred language, English language proficiency and religious affiliation. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that the VSR, like other databases, has substantial gaps in availability and quality of CALD data. ImplicationsA framework to capture richer data on cultural, religious and linguistic diversity when coding suicides is needed to inform policy on suicide prevention initiatives designed for CALD communities.

Toolkits for innovation: how digital technologies empower users in new product development

In recent decades, toolkits for innovation have been increasingly used to integrate users into new product development processes. They promise to empower users in these processes by providing design freedom and iterative learning for the transformation of ideas into products. Despite these potential benefits, little is known about how these often digital toolkits compare to traditional design methods, and what role previous experience of users in new product development plays. To compare the effectiveness of toolkits for innovation with physical product modeling, we conducted a two‐stage laboratory experiment in the form of an innovation challenge. One hundred non‐expert and 46 expert users created new product designs, which were subsequently evaluated by an independent jury. Our results show that users with no experience in digital or physical design tasks develop more innovative product ideas when using a digital toolkit for innovation than when they use physical product modeling, while expert users seem to be able to use both methods with equal success. We, thereby, show that toolkits for innovation are a powerful way to translate users' solution information into a prototype. Moreover, our results indicate that the usage of a digital toolkit for innovation decreases the quality gap between the designs of non‐expert and expert users in new product development.