Impact of a quality control circle on the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection: An interrupted time series analysis

Abstract

Background: To report a quality control circle (QCC) activity on the theme of reducing the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), and used an interrupted time series analysis to evaluate the impact of the QCC.

Methods: In a general tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China, we carried out a QCC activity with the theme of reducing CAUTI from April 2017 to December 2017. Before the QCC, we carried out the routine measures; during the QCC, we implemented usual measures and the countermeasures of QCC, and after the QCC, we performed the routine measures and adhered to the core measures of QCC. The interrupted time series analysis method was used to analyze the changes in the CAUTI incidence during the 3 stages.

Results: Before, during, and after the QCC activities, the catheter use ratios and mean indwelling time both had a downward trend; meanwhile, the compliance rate of CAUTI prevention measures showed an upward trend. After the interventions, the CAUTI incidence decreased by 1.317‰ immediately, then gradually decreased by 0.510‰ per month. After the completion of QCC, the CAUTI incidence increased by 0.266‰ immediately and increased by 0.070‰ over time, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: The CAUTI incidence is reduced through QCC, providing a useful reference for the prevention of CAUTI and the development of medical quality improvement activities.

Keywords: Catheter use ratio; Catheter-associated urinary tract infection; Interrupted time series analysis; Prevention measures; Quality control circle; Quality improvement activity.