Question

describe the difference between research and quality improvement. provide a workplace examples where qualitative and quantitative research is applied and how it was used within your organization.

Answer 1

Research is a systematic and scientific process to answer to questions about facts and relationship between facts. Research can be defined as the gathering and reviewing of information about a specific problem or topic. It is a systematic method of exploring, describing, explaining, relating or establishing the existence of phenomenon, the factors that cause change in the phenomenon.

Quality improvement is a structured, systematic pursuit of a better outcome, be it in healthcare or another area. It is systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in health care services and the health status of targeted patient groups.

There are two types of research:

1) Qualitative research is a field of inquiry that crosscuts disciplines and subject matter. It involves an in-depth understanding of human behaviour and the reasons that govern human behaviour. It is an exploratory research that's designed to gather non-numerical, observable data to solve problems. Here, data will be collected in descriptive form rather than the numerical form and analysed by descriptive coding, indexing, and narrations. It can involve the use of focus groups, interviews and observations.

2) Quantitative research is an objective approach to seek precise measurement in numerical form. It is an inquiry into an identified problem, based on testing a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analysed using statistical techniques. Here the data will be collected in numerical form and analysed by using descriptive or inferential statistics. It involves transforming data, such as numerical data, into statistics that can be used to quantify (measure) a problem or situation. It can involve the use of interviews and surveys.

One example of the application of qualitative research in the workplace is a study on experiences of patients who are admitted in the Intensive care units of a Hospital. It will give an in-depth knowledge regarding the feelings of the patients so that the positives and negatives can be easily identified and drawbacks can be corrected. Steps can be taken to make the patients feel better by applying various strategies.

Example of the application of quantitative research in the workplace is a descriptive study on prevalence of ventilator associated pneumonia among patients admitted in the intensive care units of a hospital. The prevalence gives a clear picture of the efficiency of the infection control activities in ICUs and the staff can be motivated or trained and strategies can be taken to prevent such prevalence.