Improvement of Interprofessional Education Course with Six Sigma Methodology
Poster Description: The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) requires all first-year health profession students to complete the TeamSTEPPS curriculum and an additional interprofessional (IP) course section. One course, IP 719 Hospital Systems, consistently receives lower overall students’ course evaluation scores than other IP course section offerings. A Six Sigma methodology was employed to determine the cause(s) low overall student course evaluation scores to improve the course activities to facilitate learning. Six Sigma is a process-focused improvement strategy used in business to decrease waste, improve quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and increase business profitability. Although Six Sigma is typically applied to manufacturing or service industries, it can be applied to institutes of higher education to improve quality and productivity.
The purpose of this project is to determine the cause(s) low overall student course evaluation scores to improve the course activities to facilitate learning.
The Six-Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) model determined which critical factors impacted the overall evaluation scores and student responses to the standard university statement ‘Course activities contributed significantly to learning course material’. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in overall student course evaluation scores and response to the statement between IP 719 and other section courses. A high-level process map and SIPOC-R (Supplies, Input, Process, Output, Customer, Requirement) were used to determine critical factors. Then a FMEA (Failure Mode & Effect Analysis) was conducted to further refine those factors that could be impactful to the project. Recommended actions for improvement were captured in the FMEA.
The critical factors from three key process inputs were determined to affect the evaluation scores: Course Title & Description; Course Syllabus; and Facilitator Instruction. An action plan was developed and implemented in between course offerings. The OII will monitor overall course evaluation scores to demonstrate improvement and success of action plan items.
