Step 5: Develop a Plan for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Intervention

Goal 1: Increase the number of patients who receive evidence-based care for diabetes.

Change Team member responsible for data collection, analysis, and presentation: Quality Improvement Team

Measure and target ranges for the measure:

• Percentage of patients with diabetes who receive a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test at least once a year (target range: 90%)
• Percentage of patients with diabetes who have an HbA1c level below 7% (target range: 75%)

Study design: Pre- and post-intervention study

Sample (study group) or data source with comparison group: All patients with diabetes who are seen at our clinic

Methods for data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation:

• Data will be collected from the clinic’s electronic health record (EHR) system.
• Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and statistical tests to compare pre- and post-intervention outcomes.
• Results will be presented to the clinic staff and to other stakeholders.

Timelines for baseline and for post-intervention data collection and analysis:

• Baseline data will be collected for 6 months prior to the implementation of the intervention.
• Post-intervention data will be collected for 12 months following the implementation of the intervention.
• Data analysis will be completed within 6 months of the completion of data collection.

Resources required:

• Staff time to collect and analyze data
• Access to the EHR system
• Statistical software

Other ethical considerations:

• Patient confidentiality will be maintained at all times.
• Patients will be informed about the study and will have the opportunity to opt out.

Step 6: Develop an Implementation Plan

Part A: Develop a Plan for Staff and/or Patient Training

Instructors: Quality Improvement Team

Trainee audience(s): All clinic staff who interact with patients with diabetes, including physicians, nurses, and medical assistants

Specific training requirements:

• Training on the evidence-based guidelines for diabetes care
• Training on how to use the clinic’s EHR system to track and manage patients’ HbA1c levels
• Training on how to communicate with patients about diabetes care in a way that is culturally sensitive and effective

Timeline:

• Training will be completed within 1 month of the development of the intervention.

Resources required:

• Staff time to develop and deliver training
• Training materials (e.g., handouts, PowerPoint slides)

Part B: Develop a Plan for Putting Your Intervention into Place

Specific steps:

1. Develop a system for identifying patients with diabetes who are due for an HbA1c test.
2. Implement a reminder system to remind patients about their HbA1c test appointments.
3. Provide patients with educational materials about diabetes care.
4. Follow up with patients after their HbA1c test results are available to provide support and guidance.

Timeline:

• The intervention will be implemented within 2 months of the completion of staff training.

Resources required:

• Staff time to implement the intervention
• Educational materials for patients
• Systems for tracking patient appointments and test results

Other ethical considerations:

• Patient confidentiality will be maintained at all times.
• Patients will be informed about the intervention and will have the opportunity to opt out.

Additional ethical considerations

In addition to the ethical considerations mentioned above, there are a few other ethical considerations that are relevant to the design and implementation of this intervention:

• Informed consent: Patients should be informed about the intervention and should be given the opportunity to opt out before participating.
• Beneficence: The intervention should be designed and implemented in a way that maximizes the potential benefits to patients and minimizes the potential risks.
• Justice: The intervention should be accessible to all patients who need it, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors.

Conclusion

The design and implementation of this intervention should be carried out in a way that is ethical and that maximizes the potential benefits to patients. By carefully considering the ethical considerations outlined above, the intervention team can help to ensure that the intervention is safe, effective, and equitable.