Library: DNP Scholarly Project Preparation and Planning: Toolkits

Finding and Using Toolkits

Toolkits provide resources for implementing quality improvement projects. They will contain data summaries, education materials, audit tools, and possibly bundles (a small set of evidence-based interventions for a defined patient population and care setting). Read more about toolkits at the link below.

Toolkit Guidance
from AHRQ Publishing and Communications Guidelines

How to Find Toolkits and What to Look For

Searching the internet (using Google or another search engine) is the best way to find toolkits. They are not usually indexed in bibliographic databases (such as Medline and CINAHL). Here are a few other things you can try:

If you know of a professional organization that is involved in the topic, go directly to their website and look at their resources
Look at completed DNP Projects to see which toolkits others have used
Review toolkits that aren't necessarily on your topic - you may be able to adapt them to suit your needs

Toolkits by Topic

Below is a list of toolkits organized by topic (with the topics in alphabetical order). It is by no means an exhaustive list nor is every topic represented. The list is intended to provide examples of available toolkits. The presence of a toolkit on this list is not necessarily an endorsement. When using a toolkit from this list you should still evaluate it to make sure it is appropriate for your use and contains the necessary criteria of a good toolkit.

Appropriate Use

Birth

California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Maternity and Children Quality Improvement Collaborative (MCQIC)
part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP), coordinated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM)
Implementing Quality Improvement Projects Toolkit
from the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care
Health Birth Inititative
from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
from the CDC

Breastfeeding

End of Life

The Conversation Project
Toolkit for Health Care Advance Planning
from the American Bar Association
Final Roadmap
End of Life Care (University of Southampton)
Scroll down to "Useful Downloads" at the bottom of the page

Equity

Queering Reproductive Justice: A Toolkit
LGBT Welcoming Toolkit
from Brigham and Women's Health Care
Achieving Health Equity: A Guide for Health Care Organizations
IHI White Paper
Creating Equity Reports
Race to Equity Toolkit
Assuring Healthcare Quality: A Healthcare Equity Blueprint
Click on the title to get the full report as a PDF.
Promoting Health Equity: A Resource to Help Communities Address Social Determinants of Health
from the CDC
National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities - Toolkit for Community Action
Improving Quality and Achieving Equity: A Guide for Hospital Leaders
Click on the title to get the full report as a PDF.

Mental Health

Collaborative Care Implementation Guide
from the AIMS (Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions) Center at the University of Washington
VA Community Provider Toolkit
Say it Out Loud
Tools for teen mental health from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
EARN's Mental Health Toolkit
Resources for fostering a mentally healthy workplace from EARN (Employee Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion)
Mental Health in Rural Communities Toolkit
from Rural Health Information Hub
Telepsychiatry Toolkit
from the American Psychiatric Association
AACAP's Telepsychiatry Toolkit
from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
A Toolkit for Educating About Psychosis
Mental Health Tool Kit
from the Council of State Governments

Mental / Behavioral Health in Primary Care

Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices
Health Care for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Toolkit for Primary Care Providers
Addressing Alcohol Use Practice Manual
Management of Substance Use in Pregnancy
Playbook
Guide to integrating behavioral health in primary care from the AHRQ Academy
Toolkit for Childhood & Adolescent Anxiety Management
May is Mental Health Month Toolkit
Parenting and Mental Health Toolkits
from Alberta Home Visitation Network Association
Trauma-informed - The Trauma Toolkit
Adverse Childhood Events Toolkit for Providers
from the National Crittenton Foundation

Obesity

DIMENSIONS: Well Body Toolkit for Healthcare Providers
Supplements are available for priority populations including Behavioral Health, Justice Involved, Low-Income, Pregnant and Postpartum, and Young Adult
5As of Obesity Management for Adults
5As for Pediatric Obesity Management
5As of Healthy Pregnancy Weight Gain
Improving Obesity Prevention and Management in Primary Care (5As Team)

Pain Management

Chronic Pain Management - Ingham County Community Plan of Care Committee Guidelines
see "Tool Kit - Primary Care (PDF)"
VHA Pain Management
see "The VHA Pain Outcomes Toolkit" under Clinical Tools

Satisfaction / Experience of Care

Patient Experience Improvement Toolkit
The Patient Experience Toolkit
7 tools for implementing a holistic patient experience strategy
8 Tools and Resources for Boosting Patient Satisfaction
from Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

Shared Decision Making

My Health Decisions This link opens in a new window
This resource provides a collection of shared decision-making aids to inform both patients and providers.

Teamwork and Huddles

STEPSforward
from the American Medical Association
Improving Patient Safety Culture through Teamwork and Communication: TeamSTEPPS
from the American Hospital Association and Health Research & Educational Trust