Context Based on evidence that beta -blockers can reduce mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), many hospitals have initiated performance improvement efforts to increase prescription of beta -blockers at discharge, Determination of the factors associated with such improvements may provide guidance to hospitals that have been less successful in increasing beta -blocker use, Objectives To identify factors that may influence the success of improvement efforts to increase beta -blocker use after AMI and to develop a taxonomy for classifying such efforts. Design, Setting, and Participants Qualitative study in which data were gathered from in-depth interviews conducted in March-June 2000 with 45 key physician, nursing, quality management, and administrative participants at 8 US hospitals chosen to represent a range of hospital sizes, geographic regions, and changes in beta -blocker use rates between October 1996 and September 1999. Main Outcome Measures initiatives, strategies, and approaches to improve care for patients with AMI. Results The interviews revealed 6 broad factors that characterized hospital-based improvement efforts: goals of the efforts, administrative support, support among clinicians, design and implementation of improvement initiatives, use of data, and modifying variables. Hospitals with greater improvements in beta -blocker use over time demonstrated 4 characteristics not found in hospitals with less or no improvement: shared goals for improvement, substantial administrative support, strong physician leadership advocating beta -blocker use, and use of credible data feedback, Conclusions This study provides a context for understanding efforts to improve care in the hospital setting by describing a taxonomy for classifying and evaluating such efforts. In addition, the study suggests possible elements of successful efforts to increase beta -blocker use for patients with AMI.
