Medication Error In Healthcare Practice
Background, Medication error is common place in healthcare practice; however, medication errors are often under-reported. The purpose of this study is twofold; to assess hospital staff’s perceptions of organizational culture of safety in both hospitals, and to assess the impact of the organizational safety culture on error reporting.
Methods, this is a cross-sectional survey conducted among 1300 of hospital staff members in the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, and Heart Hospital, from 15 July, 2012 to 31st August, 2012. A survey questionnaire developed and validated by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), was uploaded to the Survey Monkey website and made accessible to the entire staff in both hospitals. The
survey responses were made anonymous to encourage staff participation.
Results, Out of 1300 (approx.) staff members contacted, 511 completed the survey with a response rate of 39.3% (95% CI, 36.7% to 42%). Two third of the participants were nurses (66.3%, n=339), followed by pharmacists 9.4% (95% CI, 6.9% to 11.9%) and physicians 4.9% (95% CI, 3.31% to 7.15%). The dimension organizational learning—continuous improvement had the highest average percent positive response (87.7%), followed by teamwork within units (86.3%), and management support for patient safety (83.4%). The dimension “non-punitive response to error” scored the lowest (33.3%), followed by staffing (38.1%).
Conclusion,
The study data indicate the prevalence of a culture of blame in both hospitals, which contributes to under-reporting of errors. There is an imperative for a paradigm shift in the organizational culture towards a new model that fosters a blame-free environment.
Keywords, Hospital survey, Patient safety, Safety culture, Staff perceptions, Qatar
Methods, this is a cross-sectional survey conducted among 1300 of hospital staff members in the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, and Heart Hospital, from 15 July, 2012 to 31st August, 2012. A survey questionnaire developed and validated by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), was uploaded to the Survey Monkey website and made accessible to the entire staff in both hospitals. The
survey responses were made anonymous to encourage staff participation.
Results, Out of 1300 (approx.) staff members contacted, 511 completed the survey with a response rate of 39.3% (95% CI, 36.7% to 42%). Two third of the participants were nurses (66.3%, n=339), followed by pharmacists 9.4% (95% CI, 6.9% to 11.9%) and physicians 4.9% (95% CI, 3.31% to 7.15%). The dimension organizational learning—continuous improvement had the highest average percent positive response (87.7%), followed by teamwork within units (86.3%), and management support for patient safety (83.4%). The dimension “non-punitive response to error” scored the lowest (33.3%), followed by staffing (38.1%).
Conclusion,
The study data indicate the prevalence of a culture of blame in both hospitals, which contributes to under-reporting of errors. There is an imperative for a paradigm shift in the organizational culture towards a new model that fosters a blame-free environment.
Keywords, Hospital survey, Patient safety, Safety culture, Staff perceptions, Qatar