Research and Quality Improvement: How Can They Work Together?

Research and quality improvement (QI) are distinct concepts and differ regarding the contextual, temporal, and inclusive nature of the domain (Foster, 2013). The focus of research is to contribute to generalizable knowledge based on scientific inquiry. The dissemination of research to clinical practice is an extensive process that has long been understood to take approximately 17 years (Balas & Boren, 2000; Holtrop et al., 2018). The focus of QI is to improve processes and outcomes based on systematic data collection. The implementation of QI is timely, often resulting in immediate change and advances in processes and outcomes (Foster, 2013). QI can lead to the identification of important practice problems and gaps in science that can inform future research. Though research and QI are discrete concepts, they can work synergistically to improve patient care and health outcomes.