Educational Relations - a method for quality improvements in primary care

Important results from the project

Heart Communications ambition with this project was to establish a new niche in communication/education - called Educational Relations (ER) - that emphasizes interaction as effective ways for implementation and development. Based on user experience (User design), we have proven that ER is an effective method for quality improvement and change in healthcare. The process with collaboration with different partners, the process to build the base for the workshop and evaluation of the workshop itself has proven successful, based on the evaluation from the participants.

Expected long term effects

We have established new collaborations in healthcare and with other important partners, and published some of our work in relevant journals. We now have the opportunity to use on this project as a case, when offering collaborations/implementation efforts to other healthcare providers. We expect to be able to offer some county councils the method, and to be invited to contribute to developing care in different aspects, using our Educational Relations-method.

Approach and implementation

Our ambition was to involve end-users throughout the process, which we, with great effort, achieved. We have conducted focus group interviews with almost 40 participants. We have used a Delfi-method including primary care physicians to established relevant quality indicators, and tested a workshop setting with representatives from four different primary care units. Both the process and the end result has been build on end-user experience and needs, and is well suited for primary care in Sweden.