To assess or promptly improve a process, programme, or system; or improve performance as judged by an accepted set of standards.

Apply known solutions to a problem or process, typically related to quality, safety, cost or productivity.38

Test concepts, theories or frameworks28; establish clinical practice standards where none are accepted.

Investigate issues important to organisations through stakeholder involvement.28

Develop and apply evidence for ongoing improved practice.7

Contribute to the evidence base through academic outputs.

Uses established QI methodology, such as a Plan–Do–Study–Act model of change implementation.38

Single method research, applied in a single setting or context.38

Researcher driven using a systematic process of data collection, analysis and reporting to improve evidence base.

Single, multi or mixed methods research in single or multiple settings.38

Health organisation and university representatives’ partner in research topic selection, design and implementation processes.21 28

Systematic process of data collection and analysis. Single, multi or mixed methods research in single or multiple settings.

Dissemination of findings includes a plan for translation of findings into practice and academic outputs.7

Ethical review and informed consent are not typically required.38

May be required if consumers participate, or if staff act outside their usual scope of practice.

Review conducted by organisation where project is conducted, specific to the setting.

Required as may place subjects at negligible, low or high-level risk.

Required as may place subjects at negligible, low or high-level risk.

Designed to directly benefit the participating organisation, service or team. Normally, focused on improving patient care.

Findings are not easily translatable to other settings.38

Promptly improve an organisation’s programme, process or system linked to patient care.

Designed to benefit organisation, service or team participating.

Informs the broader research community and health sector.

Findings may be applicable to improving other contexts or organisations.

Research questions or hypotheses are addressed.

Strategically designed to enable the organisation, service or team to make changes in an informed and systematic way.7 28

Findings contribute to research literature and organisational/health management practice and inform policy.40

Research questions are addressed.

Translation/implementation is conducted and evaluated.7 28

Reporting to organisation, via internal forums or processes.

Potential publication in QI-focused journal.

May report to organisation, via internal forums or processes.

Dissemination through peer-reviewed research platforms.

Reporting to organisation, via internal forums or processes.

Dissemination through peer-reviewed research platforms, including publishing recommendations and implementation evaluation.