Abstract
Background
Education in Quality Improvement for Pediatric Practice (EQIPP) is an online program
designed to improve evidence-based care delivery by teaching front-line clinicians
quality improvement (QI) skills. Our objective was to evaluate EQIPP data to characterize
1) participant enrollment, use patterns, and demographics; 2) changes in performance
in clinical QI measures from baseline to follow-up measurement; and 3) participant
experience.
Methods
We conducted an observational study of EQIPP participants utilizing 1 of 3 modules
(asthma, immunizations, gastroesophageal reflux disease) from 2009 to 2013. Enrollment
and use, demographic, and quality measure data were extracted directly from the EQIPP
system; participant experience was assessed via an optional online survey.
Results
Study participants (n = 3501) were diverse in their gender, age, and race; most were
board certified. Significant quality gaps were observed across many of the quality
measures at baseline; sizable improvements were observed across most quality measures
at follow-up. Participants were generally satisfied with their experience. The most
influential module elements were collecting and analyzing data, creating and implementing
aim statements and improvement plans, and completing “QI Basics.”
Conclusions
Online educational programs, such as EQIPP, hold promise for front-line clinicians
to learn QI. The sustainability of the observed improvements in care processes and
their linkage to improvements in health outcomes are unknown and are an essential
topic for future study.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 19,
2014
Received:
January 29,
2014
Footnotes
Lori Morawski and Scott Bradbury are employees of the AAP, Gautham Suresh is a paid consultant to the AAP, and David Bundy, Suzanne Lazorick, and Karen Kamachi are unpaid consultants to the AAP who received financial support for travel to EQIPP planning meetings. None of the authors has a financial stake in EQIPP.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
