Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Positioning continuing education: boundaries and intersections between the domains continuing education, knowledge translation, patient safety and quality improvement

  • Reflections
  • Published:
Advances in Health Sciences Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Public and professional concern about health care quality, safety and efficiency is growing. Continuing education, knowledge translation, patient safety and quality improvement have made concerted efforts to address these issues. However, a coordinated and integrated effort across these domains is lacking. This article explores and discusses the similarities and differences amongst the four domains in relation to their missions, stakeholders, methods, and limitations. This paper highlights the potential for a more integrated and collaborative partnership to promote networking and information sharing amongst the four domains. This potential rests on the premise that an integrated approach may result in the development and implementation of more holistic and effective interdisciplinary interventions. In conclusion, an outline of current research that is informed by the preliminary findings in this paper is also briefly discussed. The research concerns a comprehensive mapping of the relationships between the domains to gain an understanding of potential dissonances between how the domains represent themselves, their work and the work of their ‘partner’ domains.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). Theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albert, M., Laberge, S., et al. (2008). Biomedical scientists’ perception of the social sciences in health research. Social Science and Medicine, 66(12), 2520–2531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, J. A., & Hearld, L. R. (2009). What can we learn from quality improvement research? Medical Care Research and Review, 66(3), 37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arksey, H., & O Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batalden, P. B., & Davidoff, F. (2007). What is “quality improvement” and how can it transform healthcare? Quality and Safety in Health Care, 16(1), 2–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, D. W. (2008). Mountains in the clouds: Patient safety research. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 17(3), 156–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, D. W., Larizgoitia, I., et al. (2009). Global priorities for patient safety research. British Medical Journal, 338, 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1997). Writing narrative literature reviews. Review of general psychology, 1(3), 311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bero, L. A., Grilli, R., et al. (1998). Closing the gap between research and practice: An overview of systematic reviews of interventions to promote the implementation of research findings. British Medical Journal, 317, 4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bordage, G., Carlin, B., et al. (2009). Continuing medical education effect on physician knowledge: Effectiveness of continuing medical education: American college of chest physicians evidence-based educational guidelines. Chest, 135(3 suppl), 29S–36S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brook, R. H. (2010). The end of the quality improvement movement: Long live improving value. Journal of the American Medical Association, 304(16), 1831–1832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, C., Hofer, T., et al. (2008). An epistemology of patient safety research: a framework for study design and interpretation. Part 1. Conceptualising and developing interventions. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 17(3), 158–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B. R. (1989). The academic life small worlds, different worlds. Educational Researcher, 18(5), 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidoff, F., Batalden, P., et al. (2008). Publication guidelines for quality improvement in health care: Evolution of the SQUIRE project. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 17(Suppl 1), i3–i9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies, H., Nutley, S., et al. (2008). Why ‘knowledge transfer’ is misconceived for applied social research. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 13(3), 188–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, D. (2006). Continuing education, guideline implementation, and the emerging transdisciplinary field of knowledge translation. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 26(1), 5–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, D., Bordage, G., et al. (2009). The science of continuing medical education: terms, tools, and gaps: Effectiveness of continuing medical education: American college of chest physicians evidence-based educational guidelines. Chest, 135(3 suppl), 8S–16S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, D., Evans, M., et al. (2003). Learning in practice the case for knowledge translation: Shortening the journey from evidence to effect. British Medical Journal, 327, 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emanuel, L., Berwick, D., Conway, J., Combes, J., Hatlie, M., et al. (2008). What exactly is patient safety? In: Henriksen, K., Battles, J. B., Keyes, M. A., Grady, M. L., (Eds.), Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches AHRQ. Publication No 08-0034-1. Vol. 1. Rockville, MD: Assessment Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

  • Graham, I. D., Logan, J., et al. (2006). Lost in knowledge translation: Time for a map? Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 26(1), 13–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. N., Johnson, C. D., et al. (2006). Writing narrative literature reviews for peer-reviewed journals: Secrets of the trade. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 5(3), 101–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grol, R. (2001). Improving the quality of medical care: Building bridges among professional pride, payer profit, and patient satisfaction. Journal of the American Medical Association, 286(20), 2578–2585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grol, R., & Grimshaw, J. (2003). From best evidence to best practice: Effective implementation of change in patients’ care. The Lancet, 362(9391), 1225–1230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammick, M., Freeth, D., et al. (2007). A best evidence systematic review of interprofessional education. Medical Teacher, 29(8), 735–751.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iedema, R. (2009). New approaches to researching patient safety. Social Science and Medicine, 69(12), 1701–1704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elsevier Education Research Review. (2010). An Author’s guide to writing articles and reviews for educational research. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, N., Butterill, D., & Goering, P. (2003). Development of a framework for knowledge translation: Understanding user context. Journal of Health Services Research Policy, 8(2), 94–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jha, A. K., Prasopa-Plaizier, N., et al. (2010). Patient safety research: an overview of the global evidence. BMJ Quality & Safety, 19, 42–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenrick, D. (2002). The demise of linearity in managing health services: A call for post normal health care. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 7(2), 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitto, S., Sargeant, J., et al. (2011). Towards a sociology of knowledge translation: the importance of being dis-interested in knowledge translation. Advances in Health Sciences Education 1–11.

  • Leape, L. L. (2002). What practices will most improve safety?: Evidence-based medicine meets patient safety. Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(4), 501–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leape, L. L., Berwick, D. M., et al. (2002). What practices will most improve safety? Evidence-based medicine meets patient safety. Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(4), 14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leape, L., Berwick, D., et al. (2009). Transforming healthcare: A safety imperative. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 18(6), 424–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maranhão, T. (1990). The interpretation of dialogue. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McWilliam, C. L. (2007). Continuing education at the cutting edge: Promoting transformative knowledge translation. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 27(2), 72–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, B. M., Moore, D. E. J., et al. (2010). Beyond Flexner: A new model for continuous leaning in the health professions. Academic Medicine, 85, 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, D. E. J., Green, J. S., et al. (2009). Achieving desired results and improved outcomes: Integrating planning and assessment thought learning activities. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 29(1), 15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plsek, P. E., & Greenhalgh, T. (2001). The challenge of complexity in health care. British Medical Journal, 323, 4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plsek, P. E., & Wilson, T. (2001). Complexity, leadership, and management in healthcare organizations. British Medical Journal, 323, 4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, A. E., Rushmer, R. K., et al. (2008). A systematic narrative review of quality improvement models in health care. Scotland: S. D. o. H. Institute, p. 64.

  • Reeves, S. (2009). An overview of continuing interprofessional education. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 29(3), 142–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rycroft-Malone, J. (2007). Theory and knowledge translation: Setting some coordinates. Nursing Research, 56(4), S78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sargeant, J. (2009). Theories to aid understanding and implementation of interprofessional education. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 29(3), 178–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shojania, K. G., & Grimshaw, J. M. (2005). Evidence-based quality improvement: The state of the science. Health Affairs, 24(1), 138–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spivey, B. E. (2005). Continuing medical education in the United States: Why it needs reform and how we propose to accomplish it. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professionals, 25(3), 134–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sobo, E. J., Dowman, C., et al. (2008). Behind the scenes in health care improvement: The complex structures and emergent strategies of implementation science. Social Science and Medicine, 67, 10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straus, S. E., Graham, I. D., et al. (2006). Knowledge translation: Resolving the confusion. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 26(1), 3–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straus, S. E., Tetroe, J., et al. (2009). Defining knowledge translation. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 181(3–4), 165–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ting, H. H., Shojania, K. G., et al. (2009). Quality improvement: Science and action. Circulation, 119(14), 1962–1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varkey, P., Reller, K., et al. (2007). The basics of quality improvement in health care. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 82(6), 5.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simon Kitto.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kitto, S., Bell, M., Peller, J. et al. Positioning continuing education: boundaries and intersections between the domains continuing education, knowledge translation, patient safety and quality improvement. Adv in Health Sci Educ 18, 141–156 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-011-9340-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-011-9340-1

Keywords

Navigation