Ethics & Quality Improvement Projects Worksheet

Instructions
Please individually prepare a response to the prompts below.
1. Discuss ethical oversight of quality improvement activities as described in the
assigned readings and the inherent challenges in this topic.
Response (500-word limit)

2. Address the debate in the assigned readings around ethical review of quality
improvement activities.
Response (500-word limit)

Ethical Oversight: Objectives & Lesson

Overview:

In this module, you will learn about the ethical oversight of quality improvement and explore your role as a project manager to ensure ethical adherence. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Utilize ethical principles in conducting investigations in the improvement and organizational science.
2. Describe differences between quality improvement initiatives and research and the implications for IRB review.
3. Discuss the different levels of IRB review, depending on the level of risk within the study.

ASSIGNED READING

Fiscella, K., Tobin, J.N., Carroll, J.K., He, H., Ogedegbe,G., (2015). Ethical oversight in quality improvement and quality improvement research: new approaches to promote a learning health care system. BMC Medical Ethics;16(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s12910-015-0056-2. 

Finkelstein, J.A., Brickman, A.L., Capron, A., Ford, D.E., Gombosev, A., Greene, S.M., et al. (2015). Oversight on the borderline: Quality improvement and pragmatic research. Clinical Trials;12(5):457-66. doi: 10.1177/1740774515597682.

Grady, C. (2007).  Quality improvement and ethical oversight. Annals of Internal Medicine;146(9):680-681. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-146-9-200705010-00156 

Lynn, J., Baily, M.A., Bottrell, M., Jennings, B., Levine, R.J., Davidoff, F., et al. (2007). The ethics of using quality improvement methods in health care. Annals of Internal Medicine;146(9):666-673. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-146-9-200705010-00155 

Cacchione, P.Z. (2011). When is Institutional Review Board approval necessary for quality improvement projects? Clinical Nursing Research; 20: 3-6.  DOI: 10.1177/1054773810395692 

Dixon, N. (2017). Guide to managing ethical issues in quality improvement or clinical audit projects. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership. https://www.hqip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/guide-to-managing-ethical-issues-in-quality-improvement-or-clinical-audit-projects.pdf 

Finkelman, A. (2022). Quality Improvement: A Guide for Integration in Nursing (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Read Ch 2 Quality Improvement: Ethics, Standards, Regulatory, Accreditation, & Legal Issues, pages 47 – 66.

White. K.M., Dudley-Brown, S., Terhaar, M.F. (2021). Translation of Evidence into Nursing and Healthcare (3rd ed.). NY: Springer Publishing.

Ch. 10. Ethical Responsibilities of Translation of Evidence and Evaluation of Outcomes, pp. 229-244