Improvement Science Takes Advantage of Methods beyond the Randomized Controlled Trial

Improvement Science is a well-established field, with tested and proven methods in agriculture and other industries for over a century. Improvement Science emphasizes rapidly testing new approaches in situ to create evidence about what changes lead to improvement in what contexts. Knowledge gained is then used to create wider or more substantial improvement. Execution of improvement science requires individuals familiar with the discipline in which the work is being performed and experts in the methods of improvement science. Improvement science is relatively new to health care systems, which have previously only considered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to be the gold-standard method to create new evidence. Although RCTs create evidence about the efficacy of therapies, Improvement Science is focused on creating evidence about how to improve systems, which deliver those therapies. As Improvement Science studies spread, we feel compelled to correct inaccurate messages about their proper methodology and reporting. Mischaracterization of these proven methodologies can sabotage the potential benefits of well-done applications of Improvement Science