Using quality improvement science to implement a multidisciplinary behavioral intervention targeting pediatric inpatient airway clearance.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to use quality improvement science methodology to develop a multidisciplinary intervention improving occurrence of best-practice airway clearance therapy (ACT) in inpatient adolescents with cystic fibrosis during routine clinical care.


METHODS
The model for improvement was used to develop and implement interventions. Primary outcomes were quality of ACT (% ACT meeting criteria for best practice) and quantity of ACT (% of hospital days patients received ACT four times/day). Annotated control charts were used to document the impact of the interventions.


RESULTS
Quality of ACT significantly improved from 21% best practice ACT at baseline to 73%. Quantity of ACT significantly improved from 41% days with ACT four times/day at baseline to 64%.


CONCLUSIONS
A multidisciplinary, evidence-based intervention was effective for improving occurrence of best-practice ACT. Pediatric psychology can make valuable contributions to improving the quality of care provided in the medical setting.
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. michelle.ernst@cchmc.org
Michelle M
MM
Ernst
Jamie L
JL
Wooldridge
Edward
E
Conway
Kathy
K
Dressman
Jeanne
J
Weiland
Karen
K
Tucker
Michael
M
Seid
D000293:Adolescent; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management; D016896:Treatment Outcome