Evaluation of a Distance Learning Curriculum for Interprofessional Quality Improvement Leaders

Abstract

As health care systems move toward value-based care, training future leaders in quality improvement (QI) is essential. Web-based training allows for broad dissemination of QI knowledge to geographically distributed learners. The authors conducted a longitudinal evaluation of a structured, synchronous web-based, advanced QI curriculum that facilitated engagement and real-time feedback. Learners (n = 54) were satisfied (overall satisfaction; M = 3.31/4.00), and there were improvements in cognitive (immediate QI knowledge tests; P = .02), affective (self-efficacy of QI skills; P < .001), and skill-based learning (Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool; P < .001). There was significant improvement in affective transfer (interprofessional attitudes on the job; p < .01) but no significant change on cognitive (distal QI knowledge test; P = .91), or skill-based transfer (self-reported interprofessional collaboration job skills; P = .23). The findings suggest that this model can be effective to train geographically distributed future QI leaders.