Barriers and Challenges to Implementing a Quality Improvement Program: Political and Administrative Challenges

Abstract

Quality improvement (QI) programs have rapidly grown in health care over recent years. Despite increasing evidence of successful QI initiatives resulting in improved outcomes, the adoption and implementation of QI programs remain a challenge worldwide. This paper briefly describes political and administrative barriers that impede the implementation of QI programs, including political and ideological factors, socioeconomic and educational barriers, and barriers related to data collection, privacy, and security. Key political and administrative barriers identified include resource limitations due to inadequate public funding, stringent laws, and change resistance. Potential solutions include support and commitment from regional and national authorities, consultation of all involved parties during QI program development, and financial incentives. The barrier of limited resources is starker among low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with high-income countries (HICs) due to the absence of adequate infrastructure, personnel equipped with QI-oriented skills, and analytical technology. Solutions that have facilitated QI programs in some LMICs include outreach and collaboration with other health centers and established QI programs in HICs. The lack of QI-specific training and education in medical curricula challenges QI implementation but can be mitigated through the provision of QI promotion webinars, QI-specific project opportunities, and formalized QI training modules. Finally, barriers related to data collection, privacy, and security include laws hindering the availability of quality data, inefficient data collection and processes, and outdated clinical information systems. Access to high-quality data, organized record-keeping, and alignment of data collection processes will help alleviate these barriers to QI program implementation. The multidimensional nature of these barriers means that proposed solutions will require coordination from multiple stakeholders, government support, and leaders across multiple fields.