Quality Improvement (QI) refers to structured efforts to enhance research processes, reduce errors, and improve consistency and performance over time.
QI uses data, metrics, and feedback loopsósuch as deviation trends, audit findings, and cycle time measuresóto identify where processes can be strengthened. In research programs, QI may target consent quality, startup timelines, monitoring effectiveness, or data cleaning efficiency. Unlike corrective actions focused on a single issue, QI emphasizes ongoing optimization and prevention. Continuous QI supports safer study conduct, better participant experience, and more reliable trial outputs.