Why focus on quality?

Why focus on quality?

We have not yet succeeded in eliminating HIV transmission; rates of HIV diagnoses remain high among key populations in the EU/EEA region.

The HIV response in the EU/EEA has not been effective enough to result in a noticeable decline over the last decade. Many factors influence the effectiveness of HIV prevention. Two important factors are: the chosen approaches, interventions and methods must be appropriate to the situation they address, and they must be carried out at a high level of quality.

For decision makers, establishing causal links in complex systems of human behaviour, quantifying sufficient program scale and distinguishing between ineffective approaches and ineffective implementation are difficult. Experts highlight implementation quality as a key factor in the effectiveness of HIV prevention.

Quality improvement aims to promote the health of the community through improvements in the quality of services, programmes and policies. It uses a defined framework in a continuous, ongoing effort to achieve measurable improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability and outcomes in HIV prevention. Quality improvement is primarily about recognising and documenting what works well and why, and then building on and multiplying successes. It serves to detect, acknowledge and improve shortcomings.

The quality improvement tools available through Quality Action are based on evidence, practical experience and expert advice. They ensure that the chosen HIV prevention interventions are planned, implemented, monitored and evaluated as well as possible to maximise their effectiveness.