Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Education in Internal Medicine Residency Training Program: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Ali Al Qarni; Sami Al-Nasser; Abdullah Alzahem; Tarig Awad Mohamed

doi:10.2147/AMEP.S300266

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Education in Internal Medicine Residency Training Program: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Adv Med Educ Pract. 2021 May 18:12:499-506. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S300266. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ali Al Qarni^{1

2

3}, Sami Al-Nasser^{4

5}, Abdullah Alzahem^{4

5

6}, Tarig Awad Mohamed^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
² King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
³ King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riaydh, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Dental Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) are a global health priority. Accordingly, QIPS education in medical education became mandatory. Despite that, information about QIPS education in postgraduate training in Saudi Arabia is limited. This study aimed to explore the educational aspects of QIPS in the internal medicine residency training program at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a qualitative study employing the constructivist grounded theory approach. The sample size was determined using the theoretical saturation point, and we utilized a purposeful sampling technique. A semi-structured interview was used for data collection and was conducted between September 6 and October 20, 2020.

Results: Twenty-two internal medicine trainee residents were required to serve the study purpose. The emerged themes were organized under awareness, education, barriers and opportunities and improvement priorities. Awareness of participants about the QIPS concept, importance, and value of education was found. The participants did not recognize specific dedicated QIPS education components under the structured training program. However, they recognized participation in patient safety-oriented activities but not in quality improvement activities. Consultants' observations and written exams were perceived as the assessment tools. Barriers including time limitation and opportunities including participation in quality improvement projects were identified. Participants suggested making QIPS education mandatory under the training program as an improvement priority.

Conclusion: This study highlighted the awareness of internal medicine residents of the QIPS concept, importance, and value of QIPS education. However, we found crucial gaps related to education including lack of a dedicated QIPS component under the training program. There is a need for multicenter studies to measure the magnitude of our findings for improvement of QIPS education in residency training in Saudi Arabia. This is the first study about QIPS education in residency training in Saudi Arabia up to our best knowledge.

Keywords: QIPS; QIPS curriculum; internal medicine residency training program; quality improvement and patient safety.