Before beginning your improvement project, it is important to know whether the problem has been tackled elsewhere and what developments have already been made.
Horizon scanning and reviews can support forward planning and inform project development, whilst enabling you to explore factors and interventions that may have potential impact. You might also discover other organisations with a similar remit in order to share learning.
A background review may help prevent reinvention of the wheel!
Healthcare Improvement Scotland evidence teams have developed a range of evidence-based products to support the delivery of high-quality healthcare improvement. The methodology toolkit is particularly useful, providing a synopsis of each of the methods used in producing evidence, information to assist in choosing an evidence methodology to use for a particular purpose. The BMJ Open Quality also provides free access to journal articles written about improvement projects in practice.