Associations between organizational characteristics and quality improvement activities of clinics participating in a quality improvement collaborative.

Background: Few studies have rigorously evaluated the associations between organizational characteristics and intervention activities of health care organizations participating in quality improvement collaboratives (QICs).

Objective: To examine the relationship between clinic characteristics and intervention activities by primary care clinics that provide HIV care and that participated in a QIC.

Design: Cross-sectional study of Ryan White CARE Act (now called Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act) funded clinics that participated in a QIC over 16 months in 2000 and 2001. The QIC was originally planned to be a more typical 12 months long, but was extended to increase the likelihood of success. Data were collected using surveys of clinicians and administrators in participating clinics and monthly reports of clinic improvement activities.

Measures: Number of interventions attempted, percent of interventions repeated, percent of interventions evaluated, and organizational characteristics.

Results: Clinics varied significantly in their intervention choices. Organizations with a more open culture and a greater emphasis on quality improvement attempted more interventions (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and interventions that were more comprehensive (P < 0.01, P < 0.10). Presence of multidisciplinary teams and measurement of progress toward quantifiable goals also were associated with comprehensiveness of interventions (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Clinic characteristics predicted intervention activities during a QIC. Further research is needed on how these organizational characteristics affect quality of care through their influence on intervention activities.