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Taking the heat or taking the temperature? A qualitative study of a large-scale exercise in seeking to measure for improvement, not blame

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  • Armstrong, Natalie
  • Brewster, Liz
  • Tarrant, Carolyn
  • Dixon, Ruth
  • Willars, Janet
  • Power, Maxine
  • Dixon-Woods, Mary

Abstract

Measurement of quality and safety has an important role in improving healthcare, but is susceptible to unintended consequences. One frequently made argument is that optimising the benefits from measurement requires controlling the risks of blame, but whether it is possible to do this remains unclear. We examined responses to a programme known as the NHS Safety Thermometer (NHS-ST). Measuring four common patient harms in diverse care settings with the goal of supporting local improvement, the programme explicitly eschews a role for blame.

Suggested Citation

  • Armstrong, Natalie & Brewster, Liz & Tarrant, Carolyn & Dixon, Ruth & Willars, Janet & Power, Maxine & Dixon-Woods, Mary, 2018. "Taking the heat or taking the temperature? A qualitative study of a large-scale exercise in seeking to measure for improvement, not blame," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 157-164.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:198:y:2018:i:c:p:157-164
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.12.033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carol H. Weiss, 1997. "How Can Theory-Based Evaluation Make Greater Headway?," Evaluation Review, , vol. 21(4), pages 501-524, August.
    2. Royston Greenwood & Amalia Magán Díaz & Stan Xiao Li & José Céspedes Lorente, 2010. "The Multiplicity of Institutional Logics and the Heterogeneity of Organizational Responses," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(2), pages 521-539, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chua, Kia-Chong & Henderson, Claire & Grey, Barbara & Holland, Michael & Sevdalis, Nick, 2023. "Evaluating quality improvement at scale: A pilot study on routine reporting for executive board governance in a UK National Health Service organisation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

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