Update from RCP Quality Improvement: QI, what do we need to learn?

Abstract

Quality improvement activities are now an established part of the training of postgraduate doctors in the UK, largely by being involved with or leading quality improvement projects. Learning activities should enable the development of professional capabilities that are outlined by the General Medical Council (GMC). 1 However, the more detailed knowledge, skills and practice that need to be learned through this had not been clearly described. It is now widely accepted that quality improvement includes both technical and behavioural elements, and that learning these through practical experience as well as source materials is necessary. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) report Quality Improvement – training for better outcomes published in 2016 started to outline knowledge, skills, values and behaviours that would be required within a quality improvement curriculum at different stages of medical careers and recommended that royal colleges should develop these further. 2 Work over the last 2 years has continued, with the medical royal colleges quality improvement leads working together through the AoMRC to describe six capabilities that should be developed through training activities. 3 They have also recommended how these might be assessed for postgraduate doctors