A Systematic Scoping Review of Capacity Building for Quality Improvement in Hospitals: Key Themes and Methodological Insights

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Addressing the complexities of health care quality improvement (QI) requires understanding the multifactorial aspects that contribute to capacity building in hospital settings. With escalating demands on health care systems, identifying factors that enhance QI capacity is crucial. This study aims to elucidate these factors and explore how they can be leveraged to improve QI initiatives in hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature review, searching databases including CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library to identify key factors influencing QI capacity development. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool was used to assess the methodological quality of studies. NVivo software facilitated the coding and thematic analysis of extracted data, enabling the identification of key themes. RESULTS: Analysis of 21 studies identified key factors for hospital QI capacity: (1) Accountability and priority setting, emphasizing clear responsibilities and strategic focus; (2) strategic management, aligning frameworks with QI objectives; (3) collaboration, highlighting the importance of synergistic efforts among stakeholders; (4) enhancing QI knowledge and experience, stressing continuous learning and experience sharing; and (5) QI project support, detailing the need for adequate resources and backing. These themes collectively provide a blueprint for advancing QI capacity in hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights critical themes for enhancing QI capacity in hospitals, particularly the integration of accountability, strategic management, collaboration, knowledge enhancement, and project support. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these themes is vital for sustained improvements in health care outcomes. Future research should explore the role of organizational culture in optimizing QI initiatives.