Improving safety and outcomes in perioperative care: does implementation matter?

The IMPROVE study describes a large perioperative quality improvement project with reporting of both compliance with improvement activities and patient outcomes. It highlights the importance of such projects, as well as the challenges in implementing change and proving benefit. Challenges identified include the importance of effective training in practice change, selection of trial design and relevant quality measures, and how the context of quality improvement initiatives may influence outcomes. Quality improvement programmes of this nature, despite the difficulties with implementation and trial design, remain a high priority because of their positive influence on improving clinical practice.

Automated summary

The IMPROVE study is a large perioperative quality improvement project that highlights the importance of such projects and the challenges in implementing change. Challenges identified include effective training, selection of trial design and relevant quality measures, and how the context of quality improvement initiatives may influence outcomes. Despite the difficulties, quality improvement programs of this nature remain a high priority due to their positive influence on improving clinical practice.