Reflecting on How the Quality Improvement Class is Utilized in Practice

Abstract

Objectives: Discover what is working within the class, and what is not working in the class. Methods: Three focus groups were held on the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy campus in January 2016. Participants were recruited via electronic mail invitation and given the opportunity to attend in person or call in via conference call. During each focus group participants were asked a series of questions designed to illicit a discussion regarding their opinions of the course and identify which areas of the curricula they still utilize. These focus groups were recorded via hand-held digital recording device. The recordings were transcribed verbatim into a word processing computer program, with all names and other identifying agents removed to maintain anonymity. The transcriptions were then imported into Atlas.Ti analysis software for descriptive coding. Once coded, the quotations were organized into a network to identify trends in answers. Results: A total of 8 students participated in the three focus groups. Students were able to reflect on both the course and project as well as explain and demonstrate their application of the knowledge they learned as a result, as well as areas in which they feel the course can be improved. Conclusions: The QI course taught the students how to perform a formal quality improvement research project, while performing the project helped solidify skills learned not only in the class but also previous courses. The students still utilize the skills they learned in both the class and project as they continue on in their professions outside a classroom setting.