PDSA stands for Plan, Do, Study, Act. It's a model for testing ideas that you think may create an improvement. It can be used to test ideas for improvement quickly and easily based on existing ideas, research, feedback, theory, review, audit, etc or practical ideas that have been proven to work elsewhere. (Langley, Nolan, Nolan, Norman & Provost (1996) "The Improvement Guide" Jossey Bass, USA).
Objective
Improve cholesterol management in diabetic patients
Plan
Assess the patients understanding of and compliance with cholesterol medication
Do
For 2 weeks all diabetics asked re understanding of and compliance with cholesterol medication
Study
80% didn’t understand why taking medication
50% didn’t comply
Act
New diabetics to spend time with practice pharmacist discussing medication
Pharmacist part of each diabetic RV
(Andrew Russell, Tayside UK )
Objective
To improve BP control for patients with CHD
Plan
Practice Manager to identify 5 CHD patients from the CHD register with BP greater than 140/85 by 24th May. Receptionists to contact patients by telephone to offer appointments with the Practice Nurse. Measure date of last attendance, BP, medication compliance.
Do
Plan is carried out
Study
Two additional patients were seen opportunistically.
Six patients seen and one did not attend.
All patients had been seen in previous 4 months.
Control of BP had been difficult:
4 patients were overweight, 1 obese.
All patients did very little or no physical exercise.
All patients except one reported that they comply with medication.
Act
Medication compliance is difficult to assess: arrange meeting with doctors to discuss alternative methods of compliance.
Patients to be followed up more frequently by Practice Nurse.
Exercise program aimed at this group to be considered.
Doctors to review medication again at the next follow-up visit.
(NPDT, UK)
