Graduate School

A quality improvement porject (QIP) involves systematic, data-guided initiatives or processes designed to improve clinical care, patient safety, health care options, services and programs.  

Under the federal regulations, research is defined as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge” (45 CFR 46.102(d)).  

Typically, a QIP is not considered human subject's research if: 

1. The goal of the project is to implement existing/known knowledge to improve or enhance health/clinical care, 
2. The project doesn’t test a hypothesis, involve randomization, or utilize comparison or control groups, or  
3. The project is based on data collection that is immediately evaluated, leading to modification of practices and behaviors (if applicable).  

An example of a nursing QIP is a student wanting to improve the safety standards at their hospital. They will implement a pre-educational survey, followed by an educational seminar, and concluded with a post-educational survey. The purpose of this QIP example is not to contribute to generalizable knowledge, but to improve the safety standards at one hospital, with one specific population. However, this example becomes research if the project's purpose is to contribute to generalizable knowledge and analyze the findings applied to other areas, such as schools.  

If there are questions about the review category of your project, please reach out to [email protected] BEFORE submitting a protocol.  

A research v. QI, PE comparison chart can be found here. 

A Nursing QIP guidance document can be found here.