Hospital patients define medical errors much more broadly than the traditional clinical definitions of medical errors, and include communication problems, lack of responsiveness, and falls as medical errors, according to a study published in the January 2007 issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. The study of more than 1,600 patients at 12 Midwestern hospitals shows the importance of explaining exactly what is meant by the term “medical error” if patients are to be effectively engaged in programs to prevent them.
The study found that most patients felt a high level of medical safety, but 39% experienced concern about at least one type of medical error during their hospitalization. Certain groups of patients were more likely to be concerned about medical errors--middle-aged patients, parents of pediatric patients, and blacks. In addition, patients who experience longer lengths of stay or more severe illnesses, or who were admitted through the emergency department, were likely to experience more concerns. Patients who received care in small and rural hospitals reported the fewest types of concerns, regardless of the severity of illness.
A single concern about a medical error was enough to significantly affect patients’ perceptions of their entire hospital experience, potentially altering adherence and willingness to return for care. The study recommends that hospitals consider routine real-time measurement of patient concerns about medical errors as part of patient satisfaction efforts. In addition, there is a need for additional research into the factors that generate concerns among patients about medical errors, how best to encourage patients to express these concerns, and what strategies effectively reassure patients about their medical safety.
