Co-designing a national quality and patient safety competency framework for Ireland: insights from a qualitative exploratory study.

backgroundQuality and patient safety competencies extend beyond technical skills, enabling healthcare professionals to navigate the complexities of modern practice, to support and promote the delivery of high quality, safe patient care. In response to challenges like workforce shortages, complex patient needs, and rapid technological advancements, many countries have developed competency frameworks to strengthen healthcare quality and patient safety (QPS). However, no such framework currently exists for the Irish healthcare system. This paper presents insights from a qualitative exploratory study to co-design an evidence-based National QPS Competency Framework for Ireland to promote clarity regarding the knowledge, skills and behaviours required in providing quality, safe care through the detailing the competencies expected of those supporting the delivery of healthcare in Irish health system.

methodsThis paper outlines the methodology employed during the co-design process. The project was informed by a comprehensive scoping review to map existing QPS competencies. Leveraging these findings, the co-design process, involved extensive stakeholder engagement through targeted recruitment, a single-round Delphi survey, iterative co-design workshops and initial testing and user feedback on the co-designed QPS Framework. This paper concentrates on the qualitative co-design methods used in, highlighting the active and sustained involvement of key stakeholders in shaping the framework.

resultsA structured co-design process engaged 89 diverse stakeholders through a Delphi survey, co-design workshops, and online discussions. Through iterative discussions and expert consultations, five thematic subgroups were identified: (1) supporting a culture of quality and patient safety (QPS) (2), optimising human factors, teaming, and communication (3), managing quality and fostering organisational learning (4), strengthening safety and risk management, and (5) recognising, responding to, and disclosing incidents. These sub-groups met several times over an 18-month period and worked to finalise sets of competencies to present to the wider group. A final workshop consolidated feedback, culminating in Ireland's National QPS Competency Framework, The National Quality and Patient Safety Navigator.

conclusionsBy leveraging a co-design methodology and supported by exploratory qualitative research, this project developed a comprehensive, evidence-based QPS competency framework tailored to the needs of Ireland's healthcare workforce. The qualitative research provided systematic evidenced-based approach in integrating insights of stakeholder experiences and needs, enriching the co-design process and ensuring the framework's relevance and feasibility across diverse healthcare staff and settings.