What is the difference between primary and secondary data? How can primary and secondary source data be used to drive CQI? Provide a specific example of how each source can be used to drive CQI.
Discussion 6-1: Primary and Secondary Data
Both primary and secondary data are important in continuous quality improvement programs. Primary data is the type of data that is collected directly from the research or data source without going through any existing sources (Benedictine University, 2022). Researchers themselves collect data through surveys, experiments, and interviews. The data, specifically, helps in understanding and solving the research problem at hand. On the other hand, secondary data are those that are already recorded by other researchers for different purposes. Secondary data include available sources such as journal articles, books, and others (Benedictine University, 2022). Secondary data are often easily accessed because they are shared publicly.
Primary data can be used to drive continuous quality improvement projects in many ways. For example, researchers can conduct surveys about handwashing in hospitals to collect primary data for a continuous quality improvement project (Ajayi, 2017). Patients can be asked whether handwashing facilities are accessible, whether they work properly, and how frequently do they wash their hands. Additionally, the researcher may conduct experiments to identify whether staff education would reduce catheter-associated infections (Benedictine University, 2022). The data collected in such instances are first-hand or primary data that have not been published anywhere.
An example of secondary data includes information from the national bureau of statistics regarding 30-day readmissions to improve the incidences. Another example is collecting information through a review of journal articles or books to understand the advantages of electronic health records in hospitals. In this case, the information is second-hand and not collected directly by the researcher (Ajayi, 2017). Both the primary data and secondary data are important and useful in continuous quality improvement in healthcare organizations.
References
Ajayi, V. O. (2017). Primary sources of data and secondary sources of data. Benue State University, 1(1), 1-6. 10.13140/RG.2.2.24292.68481
Benedictine University. (2022). Public health research guide: primary & secondary data definition. https://researchguides.ben.edu/c.php?g=282050&p=4036581