Use of an Appreciative Inquiry Approach to Enhance Quality Improvement in Management of Patient Care

Abstract

Background Different approaches are available to facilitate employees’ motivation, involving them in decision making and participating in different activities. Due to changes and the widespread of dissatisfaction with the management of the current South African health system, various approaches to enhance quality improvement in management have emerged. However, their effects on the quality of care have been unsatisfactory. This article describes how an appreciative inquiry was used to facilitate motivation and promote organisational quality improvement in the management of patient care. Methods The AI approach which comprise of an appreciative topic and acting on this theme through the 5-D cycle: namely Definition of the affirmative topic, Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny was used. Results An appreciative inquiry approach offered employees an opportunity to reflect on the existing strengths within their practice situation, leading them to discover what is important and enhance quality improvement in the management of patient care in South Africa. Furthermore, AI is reported to have significant transformational as it has shifted the focus form problems to be solved to discovering and building on what works well within an organisation and used that as the starting point for implementing change. Conclusions New approaches such as AI have the potential to improve patient care and enhance individual and group motivation by changing the way participants think about, approach, and imagine the future.

Building on Success: Revisiting the Tele-Aral Program Through the Lens of Appreciative Inquiry

“…They can do this by having a shared understanding of one's potential through meaningful dialogues and hearing out one's stories. Moreover, these findings agree with the study of Luhalima et al (2022) that since AI is seated on possibilities rather than resolving problems, its strengths mainly lie in uncovering opportunities through the shared actions of a community. Therefore, it underlines power issues by aiding the building of critical thinking and interrupting self-limiting practices.…”

“…Therefore, AI can be emancipatory as it underlines power issues, aids in building critical thinking, and interrupts self-limiting. Moreover, AI implies that our mental images of the future encourage us to take actions that can make them occur (Luhalima et al, 2022).…”