Completed
2013

DUQuE: Deepening our Understanding of Quality Improvement systems in European hospitals, 2009-2013

Duration: Nov 2009 - Dec 2013

Background
In European hospitals, many different quality improvement strategies are applied, but knowledge of the effectiveness of these strategies is limited. The aim of this study is to identify the effectiveness of the improvement strategies. Furthermore, the influence of organisational and safety culture, professionalisation, and patient empowerment will be examined.

Aim
The object of study is the effectiveness of quality improvement systems in European hospitals of 8 countries. This has been done by assessing the relationship of organisational quality improvement systems/management and culture, professionals’ involvement, and patient empowerment with the quality of hospital care (including clinical effectiveness, patient safety and patient involvement).

Research question
Is there a link between quality of care and quality improvement systems, organisation/safety culture, professionalisation and patient empowerment in European hospitals?

Method
The data collection will take place in 240 hospitals, from 8 European countries.
The data will be collected on different levels: hospital level, departmental level and patient level:
- On the hospital and ward level, data will be collected through questionnaire surveys.
- At the patient level, data are collected by means of questionnaire surveys and analysis of patient records. For this purpose, patient records are collected from four conditions; myocardial infarction, cerebral haemorrhage, hip fracture and deliveries.

Results first year:
- Measuring instruments for data collection
- Selection of hospitals
- Reports and results of the study
Funding
EU DG-Research (7th Framework)
Project partners
Several institutes and universities in Europe and the United States