Consensus publication guidelines: the next step in the science of quality improvement?

Abstract

Samuel Beckett wrote “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Fiona Moss and I tried some time ago to produce a structure for publication of quality improvement reports on behalf of this journal that would facilitate and encourage their publication;¹ the BMJ subsequently adopted the structure for their authors.² Now, several years on from these first attempts, Davidoff and Batalden suggest new publication guidelines that build on this earlier version.³ These should be welcomed—in the spirit of improvement and intellectual evolution, it would be very surprising if the first attempt were to remain unchanged and unchallenged.