The importance of learning and knowledge sharing to support implementation of total quality management in healthcare

Abstract

Background/Aims Implementation of total quality management in healthcare services has often been unsuccessful. This is a result of a variety of factors, including the inadequacy of learning and knowledge sharing methods to support implementation. This study aimed to explore how learning and knowledge sharing policies influence total quality management initiatives in the healthcare sector. Methods An extended total quality management model, named the ethical, adaptive, learning, and improvement model, was developed and implemented in a private healthcare organisation in the UK. Using action research, data were collected from 91 participants over a 21-month period from qualitative interviews, focus groups and participant observations. Results Practice-based training was found to increase employee competence, reflecting the importance of tacit knowledge sharing. The model led to the prevalent blame culture changing to a learning culture through an appreciative management style that focused on recognising what is done right. In addition, patients' satisfaction and quality of care improved through community groups that were set up to address quality problems and patients' needs. Conclusions Adequate knowledge sharing methods play an important role in improving quality in healthcare. Greater consideration should be given to this widely ignored aspect when implementing total quality management in NHS trusts.

The moderating effect of knowledge-sharing on learning organisation and quality improvement practices

“…Through a literature review of health professions education, KS was found to be an important factor affecting QI (Matinho et al, 2022). Besides, through empirical studies in the healthcare sector, KS has been found to be a key factor affecting QI interventions (Allen, 2016), QI awareness (Hut-Mossel et al, 2021), QI collaborative (Olsen et al, 2021), continuous QI (Laycock et al, 2018), andQIP (El Morr andJulien, 2010;Sorakraikitikul and Siengthai, 2014;Aveling et al, 2017;Hassanain, 2017;Svenningsson et al, 2019;Lebcir and James, 2021;Nelson et al, 2022). Tacit KS is detected to promote QIP in HCOs (Chastain-Warheit and BPMJ 29,6 Zipperer and Tokarski, 2016) and KS is found to influence QIP in Pharmaceutical institutions (Steenkamer et al, 2018).…”

“…Learning from QI training has been converted into evident upgrades to clinical activities within care residences (Damery et al ., 2021). Practice-based training is essential to QI in HCOs (Lebcir and James, 2021).…”

“…While previous research interprets the effect of LO on QIP (Thygeson et al, 2021;Aurelio et al, 2022;Flug et al, 2022), the effect of KS on LO (Auer et al, 2020;Alonazi, 2021) and the Knowledgesharing and quality improvement effect of KS on QIP (Svenningsson et al, 2019;Lebcir and James, 2021;Al-Gharaibeh and Ali, 2022;Nelson et al, 2022), the moderating role of KS in the relationship between LO and QIP in HCOs has not been examined to the best of the author's knowledge. So, the current study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the moderating effect of KS on LO and QIP which has not been examined empirically.…”

“…, 2020; Alonazi, 2021) and the effect of KS on QIP (Svenningsson et al. , 2019; Lebcir and James, 2021; Al-Gharaibeh and Ali, 2022; Nelson et al. , 2022), the moderating role of KS in the relationship between LO and QIP in HCOs has not been examined to the best of the author's knowledge.…”