U Charts are used to display counts for an inconsistent sample size or "area of opportunity". For example, a hospital interested in reducing the number of falls on their wards, where the number of patients on the wards varies considerably could use a rate per 1000 Occupied Bed Days.
Typical instances in healthcare would be:
Here we will show you what data is required when creating a U Chart and how this is reflected in the Chart itself.
So lets say the 'Aim' of the project was to reduce the number of 'slips and trips' at New Hospital by 80% in 12 months, and the measure was the number of slip and trips per week.
You would need to capture the following data:
| Time Period | Dates when the value was recorded (Daily, Weekly, monthly). |
| Count | The counts recorded at every time period (The number of patients that have slipped / tripped whilst in hospital, each week). |
| Total | Sample size each time the count was taken |
Data Capture Example:
Total number of slips and trips per week
U Control Chart Example:
Total number of slips and trips per week