Research and Quality Improvement
Recent trends of increased regulations for research and the use of quality improvement guidelines in health care impact heavily on health services delivery. However, dilemma on the distinction of research from quality improvement has been observed on the part of health practitioners. Therefore, there is need to differentiate the two concepts that assure the evolution of the best patient care practices. First, quality improvement projects have a data source from a single organization, while the data employed in research may come from many settings or organizations. Secondly, in QI projects, the primary audience is the organization conducting the research, whereas the audience of research encompasses the scientific consumers. Further, in quality improvement activities, the patients found in a particular clinical microsystem are the participants. In research, an investigator finds human subjects by employing techniques that would ensure a sample representation of the whole population. Lastly, in QI initiatives, the healthcare personnel is attempting to solve a challenge in a particular setting unlike a research which generalizes study results to other settings.
A combination of both qualitative and quantitative research studies are essential in dissemination of the findings broadly. A quantitative and qualitative research was carried out to understand the sources of work stress among oncology nurses was conducted within my organization. The quantitative part encompassed using a standard questionnaire on stress related factors whereas the qualitative part used semi structured interviews to explore the implications of the work stress sources directly pointed out by the nurses. The study found out leading factors of work stress to be; emotional demands, staff shortage, and cultural differences. The study was considered by the management as the recommendation of more staff was enforced.
The researcher explored different factors constituting work stress among oncology nurses. A conclusion that work-related stressors need to be given more attention by the hospital management. Therefore, hospital administrators in other hospitals can make meaning of the study by dealing with factors such as understaffing. Similarly, nurse educators in other hospitals may use the study in designing strategies to enable oncology nurses develop stress management skills.
References
Anna Kołcz, Karolina Jenaszek, Assessment of pressure pain threshold at the cervical and lumbar spine region in the group of professionally active nurses: A cross‐sectional study, Journal of Occupational Health, 10.1002/1348-9585.12108, 62, 1, (2020).
Morgan DL. Practical strategies for combining qualitative and quantitative methods: applications to health research. Qualitative Health Research. 1998;8:362–376.