Background and Objectives: A 2019 study found that between 2014 and 2017, family medicine residents had little improvement in self-assessed preparedness to lead quality improvement projects. This study explored the effectiveness of leveraging a practice-based research network (PBRN) across multiple family medicine residencies not only for implementing quality improvement projects, but also as a teaching tool designed to improve knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and leadership skills in family medicine faculty and residents.
Methods: Residents in family medicine residency programs and one community internal medicine program and family medicine teaching faculty participated in a PBRN-led quality improvement project (QIP) to improve colon cancer screening in their clinic. Of 101 participants, 79 (78%) were residents and 22 (22%) were faculty or attending physicians. Questions surveying participants’ knowledge and confidence related to QIP before and after the QIP were given.
Results: Overall, participants reported an improvement in their basic understanding of QI concepts (P=.004). They also reported having sufficient staff and ancillary support to meaningfully participate (P=.033). Participants indicated they had more confidence in their ability to participate in a QI project (P=.002), initiate, design, and lead such a project (P=.001), and teach their peers and staff basic QI concepts (P<.001).
Conclusions: PBRNs appear to be a unique way to subjectively improve residents’ confidence in their quality improvement skills. PBRNs should be further explored as a method for educating family medicine residents in quality improvement.
Residents’ Views on Research and Quality Improvement Training Can Guide Practice-Based Research Network Collaboration
