Using PDSA cycles to improve oral care compliance

Abstract

Oral care has been shown to reduce healthcare-associated pneumonia (HAP) rates, however, compliance with this practice is suboptimal. Using quality improvement PDSA cycles over an 8-week period, we saw improvements in oral care documentation compliance through statistical process control charts; HAP rates did not significantly decrease. Infection prevention leadership should consider regularly incorporating PDSA cycles to improve compliance with evidence-based infection prevention practices.

Keywords: Healthcare associated pneumonia; Nursing; Quality improvement.