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Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) methods offer healthcare organizations valuable tools for improving services to their patients. These tools are also useful in improving the way an organization delivers its services. In this ease study, the authors describe the use of quality improvement activities for improving the enrollment and screening for breast anti cervical cancer for the Women's Health Connection (WHC). The WHC is operated by the Nevada Department of Human Resources, Health Division, to provide screening for income eligible women between the ages of 40-64. Funding for the WHC was provided by the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). By using Quality Improvement Teams, the WHC was able to restructure the way women were being enrolled in the program in order to increase the number of women screened and to help the program meet CDC performance indicators. This article documents the quality improvement process used in the case study, highlights the areas improved, and demonstrates how quality improvement was useful in improving services provided to women. It also describes staff acceptance of the quality improvement process and its potential future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Today's rapid growth of migrant populations has been a major contributor to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. However, relatively few studies have focused on HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice among rural-to-urban migrants in China. This cross-sectional study was to assess HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and perceptions, including knowledge about reducing highrisk sex. Methods Two-phase stratified cluster sampling was applied and 2,753 rural migrants participated in this study. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was conducted in Guangdong and Sichuan provinces in 2007. Descriptive analysis was used to present the essential characteristics of the respondents. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations between identified demographic factors and high-risk sex, sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms, and access to HIV screening services among the seven types of workers. Results 58.6% of participants were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS transmission, but approximately 90% had a negative attitude towards the AIDS patients, and that 6.2% had engaged in highrisk sex in the past 12 months. Logistic regression analysis revealed sex, marital status, income, migration and work experience to be associated with high-risk sex. Among the 13.9% of workers who reported having STD symptoms, risk factors that were identified included female gender, high monthly income, being married, daily laborer or entertainment worker, frequent migration, and length of work experience. Only 3% of migrant workers received voluntary free HIV screening, which was positively associated with monthly income and workplace. Conclusions HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices among rural migrants in China remain a thorny health issue, and use of healthcare services needs to be improved. Low levels of education and knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS among housekeepers and migrant day laborers result in this population likely being engaged in high-risk sex. Government programs should pay more attention to public education, health promotion and intervention for the control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]