Quality improvement is not research since the goal is mainly to improve performance at specific institutions. In contrast, the focus of research is to contribute to general knowledge. Since quality improvement does not require IRB approval, and involves a different set of ethical issues than research, the blurry line between the two becomes ethically essential.
Quality Improvement vs. Research
Request a Consult
Consultation is available to help clarify and address ethical issues that arise in human subjects research.
Video
When is QI just QI? Ethical overlap and distinctions between QI and Research
In this talk, Mary Ott, MD, MA, professor of pediatrics and adjunct professor of philosophy & bioethics in the division of adolescent medicine, presents “When is QI just QI? Ethical Overlap and Distinctions between QI & Research.”
Related Resources
Quality Improvement vs Research
Quality Improvement vs. Research – Do I need IRB approval
The Slippery Slope: Differentiating Between Quality Improvement and Research