A Study on Quality Improvement Activities in Korean Hospitals

국내 의료기관의 질 향상 활동 현황

Background : This study was carried out to assess the quality improvement(QI)activities in Korean hospitals. Methods : A mailed questionnaire survey was conducted between September 15 and October 30, 2000. The staffs being charge of QI each of the hospitals with 400 beds or more responded to the questionnaire. Of the 108 hospitals eligible for inclusion in our study, 69 participated, yielding a response rate of 63.9%. Results : Based on these survey, 87.3 percent of the responding hospitals were performing QI projects and 54 percent of the hospitals had a separate department for QI activity. About 62 percent of hospitals performing QI activity (QI hospitals) had a QI manager and 58 percent had a separate budget for QI activities. Among the QI hospitals, 85 percent had cross-functional or cross-departmental teams as the major mechanisms for doing QI projects, 94 percent had one or more educational programs on QI. The level of physician's participation level for QI projects was lower than other staff(CEO, nurses and other administrators). Conclusion : The majority of the hospitals have undertaken activities in QI. For the successful implemented QI, the involvement of and education for employees(including physicians and other health professionals)are needed as well as management strategy and leadership. Understanding of other hospitals experience would be helpful for health care managers to plan and initiate QI activities.