{"title":"Quality Coordinators' Perspectives on Quality Improvement in Primary Healthcare in Kosovo: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Ardita Baraku, Gordana Pavleković","doi":"10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000431","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>This qualitative descriptive study provides insights into the experiences of quality coordinators (QCs) in primary healthcare to inform policy and practice actions and empower QCs to enhance healthcare quality.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted focus group discussions with purposefully selected QCs to understand their motivations, job experiences, factors influencing healthcare quality, and suggestions for quality improvement. Content analysis and deductive coding were used to scrutinize the responses and answer the research questions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The QCs thought highly about their job performance and were motivated by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Clinical audits, collegial reviews, and managerial support positively affected QCs' performance. In contrast, a lack of managerial support, limited working hours, and changes in organizing work caused the opposite. Empowerment and external support positively influenced healthcare quality, whereas lack of resources, managerial support, or training had a negative influence. Suggestions to improve quality include the role of QCs, external supervision, and centralization of the QCs' network.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Appointing QCs alone does not guarantee quality improvement. It is essential to ensure that QCs have the appropriate skills, tools, management support, and open communication channels. Further research is required to evaluate the effects of sex and age on QCs' performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":48801,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Healthcare Quality","volume":" ","pages":"e49-e55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal for Healthcare Quality","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000431","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/4/30 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims: This qualitative descriptive study provides insights into the experiences of quality coordinators (QCs) in primary healthcare to inform policy and practice actions and empower QCs to enhance healthcare quality.
Methods: We conducted focus group discussions with purposefully selected QCs to understand their motivations, job experiences, factors influencing healthcare quality, and suggestions for quality improvement. Content analysis and deductive coding were used to scrutinize the responses and answer the research questions.
Results: The QCs thought highly about their job performance and were motivated by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Clinical audits, collegial reviews, and managerial support positively affected QCs' performance. In contrast, a lack of managerial support, limited working hours, and changes in organizing work caused the opposite. Empowerment and external support positively influenced healthcare quality, whereas lack of resources, managerial support, or training had a negative influence. Suggestions to improve quality include the role of QCs, external supervision, and centralization of the QCs' network.
Conclusion: Appointing QCs alone does not guarantee quality improvement. It is essential to ensure that QCs have the appropriate skills, tools, management support, and open communication channels. Further research is required to evaluate the effects of sex and age on QCs' performance.
期刊介绍:
The Journal for Healthcare Quality (JHQ), a peer-reviewed journal, is an official publication of the National Association for Healthcare Quality. JHQ is a professional forum that continuously advances healthcare quality practice in diverse and changing environments, and is the first choice for creative and scientific solutions in the pursuit of healthcare quality. It has been selected for coverage in Thomson Reuter’s Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index®, and Current Contents®.
The Journal publishes scholarly articles that are targeted to leaders of all healthcare settings, leveraging applied research and producing practical, timely and impactful evidence in healthcare system transformation. The journal covers topics such as:
Quality Improvement • Patient Safety • Performance Measurement • Best Practices in Clinical and Operational Processes • Innovation • Leadership • Information Technology • Spreading Improvement • Sustaining Improvement • Cost Reduction • Payment Reform