A primer on PDSA: executing plan–do–study–act cycles in practice, not just in name

This paper from BMJ Quality & Safety provides a primer on executing plan–do–study–act (PDSA) cycles in practice. It draws on a recent improvement project to provide real-world examples of PDSA methodology and highlight the benefits of putting it into practice. The project aimed to reduce unnecessary urinary catheters among patients on general medical wards. The paper provides a summary of eight PDSA cycles involved in the project, including predictions, testing, and key lessons learned.