Which statement best describes the "S" component of the PDSA performance improvement model?

Which statement best describes the "S" component of the PDSA performance improvement model?

• A. Determine how changes will be implemented
• B. Implement the intervention
• C. Determine the impact of the intervention
• D. Maintain and continue improvement

Answer: (C)

In the PDSA cycle, the Study (S) stage focuses on examining what happened as a result of the change and what it means. After planning and carrying out the intervention, you analyze the data to determine its impact—did the results meet the expected outcomes, and what variation occurred? This step is about learning from the results to decide the next action: adopt the change as is if it worked well, modify it and test again, or abandon it if it didn’t improve things. The other stages map to different activities: planning how to implement the change, actually carrying out the change, and then sustaining or spreading successful improvements.

In the PDSA cycle, the Study (S) stage focuses on examining what happened as a result of the change and what it means. After planning and carrying out the intervention, you analyze the data to determine its impact—did the results meet the expected outcomes, and what variation occurred? This step is about learning from the results to decide the next action: adopt the change as is if it worked well, modify it and test again, or abandon it if it didn’t improve things. The other stages map to different activities: planning how to implement the change, actually carrying out the change, and then sustaining or spreading successful improvements.