Building capacity and capability for quality improvement: developing an organisational approach

There has been an increase in the adoption of quality improvement methods to tackle complex problems in healthcare. One of the key requisites for sustainable quality improvement is ensuring that organisations have the capacity and capability to make these changes effectively. This article uses a case study methodology to describe the learning from 9 years of developing, delivering and evaluating quality improvement learning programmes at East London NHS Foundation Trust. The key quality improvement learning progammes are evaluated using a Kirkpatrick framework across four levels: reaction, learning, behaviour and outcomes. Five key principles were identified: using a dosing approach; standardising development, delivery and evaluation; developing a community to support learners; making training relevant; and the importance of leadership. However, the authors believe that more research is needed to develop standardised approaches to evaluating quality improvement capability building and to understand why some quality improvement projects are less successful than others.