PSDA CYCLE DIRECTIONS AND TEMPLATE

Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) is a tool used to plan and document your progress with tests of change conducted as part of the improvement process. PDSA can be used when starting a new improvement project, developing a new or improved process, product or service, defining a repetitive work process, implementing any change or working toward continuous improvement. Most improvement projects involve multiple PDSA cycles in order to achieve the aim.

THREE QUESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

  1. What are we trying to accomplish?
  2. How will we know that a change is an improvement (measures)? Describe the measurable outcome(s) you want to see.
  3. What change we can make that will result in an improvement?
    • Define the processes currently in place and identify opportunities for improvement that exist. Look for causes of problems that have occurred (perform a root cause analysis) or identify potential problems before they occur.
    • Decide what you will change in the process and determine your intervention based on your analysis.

STEP 1: PLAN

Plan the test of observation, including a plan for collecting data.

  • State the objective of the test. What change are you testing?
  • State the questions you want to answer and make predictions about what will happen and why.
  • Develop a plan to test the change. (Who will be involved? What resources do you need? How long will the change take to implement? What data need to be collected?)
  • Tip: list your action steps along with the individuals responsible and a time line.

STEP 2: DO

Try out the test on a small scale.

  • Carry out the test
  • Document problems and unexpected observations (any problems and unexpected findings).
  • Collect data you identified as needed during the “plan stage”.
  • Begin analysis of the data (describe what actually happened when you ran the test).

STEP 3: STUDY

Set aside time to analyze the data and study the results.

  • Complete the analysis of the data.
  • Compare the data to your predictions (determine if the change resulted in the expected outcome).
  • Summarize and reflect on what was learned (note implementation lessons, unintended consequences, surprises, successes, failures).

STEP 4: ACT

Refine the change, based on what was learned from the test.

  • Based on what was learned from the test:
    • Adapt-determine what modifications should be made.
    • Adopt- consider expanding the changes in your organization to a full scale
    • Abandon- change your approach and prepare a plan for the next PDSA.

PDSA RESOURCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

PDSA Directions and Examples

https://www.ahrq.gov/health-literacy/quality-resources/tools/literacy-toolkit/healthlittoolkit2-tool2b.html

American Medical Association

Detailed Steps and Downloadable Resources

https://edhub.ama-assn.org/steps-forward/module/2702507?resultClick=1&bypassSolrId=J_2702507