A retrospective analysis of adverse events reported by Tunisian intensive care units' professionals.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse events (AEs) that occur in hospitals remain a challenge worldwide, and especially in intensive care units (ICUs) where they are more likely to occur. Monitoring of AEs can provide insight into the status and advances of patient safety. This study aimed to examine the AEs reported during the 20 months after the implementation of the AE reporting system. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a voluntary ICU AE reporting system. Incidents were reported by the staff from ten ICUs in the Sahloul University Hospital (Tunisia) between February 2020 and September 2021. RESULTS: A total of 265 reports were received, of which 61.9% were deemed preventable. The most frequently reported event was healthcare-associated infection (30.2%, n = 80), followed by pressure ulcers (18.5%, n = 49). At the time of reporting, 25 patients (9.4%) had died as a result of an AE and in 51.3% of cases, the event had resulted in an increased length of stay. Provider-related factors contributed to 64.2% of the events, whilst patient-related factors contributed to 53.6% of the events. As for criticality, 34.3% of the events (n = 91) were unacceptable (c3) and 36.3% of the events (n = 96) were 'acceptable under control' (c2). CONCLUSIONS: The reporting system provided rich information on the characteristics of reported AEs that occur in ICUs and their consequences and may be therefore useful for designing effective and evidence-based interventions to reduce the occurrence of AEs.

Self-Assessment of Patient Safety Reporting and Learning System in Private Hospitals in Indonesia.

Introduction: Hospitals are required to implement patients safety incident (PSI) reporting, analysis, and problem-solving. Self-assessment is important for exploring gaps and strengthening PSI reporting and learning system. Objectives: This study examined PSI reporting and learning systems through self-assessment based on WHO guidance, analysis of section scores by hospital class, and analysis of section relationships. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 193 health workers from 47 Indonesian non-profit private hospitals selected using non-probability sampling. Samples in each hospital consisted of seven hospital staff, including quality and patients' safety committee, infectious diseases control committee, manager/head of nursing, as well as functional staff comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and nutritionists. Six aspects based on WHO guidance were measured in this study namely 1) environment for reporting, 2) reporting rules and content, 3) analysis and investigation, 4) governance, 5) action and learning, as well as 6) patients' and family engagement. The data obtained were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analysis. Results: The results showed that the total average score was 64.7 ± 3.3, and the average score on all components of PSI reporting and learning system was minimum 59.3 and maximum 69.6 of a total score of 100. The lowest average score was found in patients' and family engagement component at 59.3 ± 8.4. Class B hospitals had higher average scores on each component than class C and D hospitals, except on the action and learning and patients' and family engagement section. There was a significant positive linear correlation between each section of PSI reporting and learning system (p-value < 0.01). Conclusion: The PSI reporting and learning system in hospitals is in need of improvement across all aspects. One specific area that requires attention is the implementation of mechanisms for patient and family engagement, which can play an important role in promoting safety programs.

Contributory factors and patient harm including deaths associated direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) medication incidents: evaluation of real world data reported to the National Reporting and Learning System.

INTRODUCTION: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are considered high risk medicines and are frequently associated with medication errors. The nature of incidents and associated outcomes of such incidents are poorly understood. AREAS COVERED: Using a national patient safety reporting database, the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS), this study aimed to report the contributory factors and outcomes including severe harm and deaths related to all safety incidents involving DOACs reported in England and Wales between 2017-2019. Reason's accident causation model was used to classify the incidents. EXPERT OPINION: A total of 15,730 incident reports were analyzed. A total of 25 deaths were reported with a further 270 and 55 incidents leading to moderate and severe harm, respectively. A further 8.8% (n = 1381) of incidents were associated with low degree of harm. The majority of the incidents involved active failures (n = 13776; 87.58) including duplication of anticoagulant therapies, patients being discharged without DOACs, non-consideration of renal function, and lack of commencement of DOACs post-surgery suggesting preventability of such reported incidents. This study shows that medication incidents involving DOACs have the potential to cause severe harm and deaths, and there is a need to promote guideline adherence through education, training, and decision support technologies.

Aggregate causes of adverse events and possible methods to mitigate them within healthcare: Results and lessons learned based on the reports sent to the Hungarian NEVES reporting and learning system / A nemkívánatos események általános okai és kezelési lehetoségei az egészségügyben: Eredmények és tanulságok a hazai NEVES jelentési és tanulórendszerbe érkezett jelentések alapján

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Hazánkban 2007-ben indult el a NEVES (NEm Várt ESemények) rendszer, amelybe az eltelt idoszakban több mint 26,5 ezer nemkívánatos eseményre vonatkozó jelentés érkezett. A jelentések feldolgozásával hét témakörben készültek oki kutatások és ajánlások a feltárt okok megelozésére. Célkituzés: Az oki kutatások eredményei alapján a hazai ellátási gyakorlatban meglévo legfontosabb, nemkívánatos eseményhez vezeto általános okok azonosítása és ajánlások megfogalmazása a kezelésükre. Módszerek: Témakörönként végeztünk szakirodalmi kutatást a lehetséges okok és kezelési lehetoségek feltárására. Leíró statisztikai elemzéseket alkalmaztunk a jelentések adatai alapján az összefüggések megállapítására, majd Ishikawa-diagrammal kerestük az alapveto okokat. Fókuszcsoportos megbeszélések alapján gyujtöttünk lehetséges megoldásokat. A munkacsoportok eredményeibol összefoglaló táblázatokat készítettünk. Eredmények: Kilenc fo oki csoport volt meghatározható: a szabályozás, szabálykövetés, a végzett tevékenységek hiányosságai; az eseményekbol való tanulás hiánya; az oktatás, a humáneroforrás, a kommunikáció és dokumentálás, illetve az eszközhasználat, infrastruktúra problémái. A megoldási javaslatok hat csoportba sorolhatók: a szabályozások kialakításával és a gyakorlati alkalmazás elérésével kapcsolatos teendok; az oktatások megszervezése és lebonyolítása; beszerzés a szükségletek alapján; a kommunikáció fejlesztése; tanulás a hibákból, nemkívánatos eseményekbol; motivációs eszközök alkalmazása. Következtetés: Az eloforduló nemkívánatos események oki szerkezete hasonló mintázatú, ezért az eseményekrol szóló információk gyujtése, elemzése alapján megállapíthatók a legfontosabb kezelendo okok. Az országos szintu elemzések kiinduló pontot jelenthetnek a helyi sajátosságok és fejlesztési irányok azonosítására. A kutatások alapján feltárt muködési gyengeségek kiküszöbölésével, kezelésével nemcsak a kutatásba bevont témakörökben, hanem általánosságban is javulhat a betegellátás biztonsága. Ehhez elkötelezett vezetés, a változtatások meghatározáshoz betegbiztonsági ismeretek és szemlélet, illetve változtatási hajlandóság szükséges. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(6): 236-245. INTRODUCTION: In 2007, the NEVES system started its operation in Hungary. Ever since, more than 26.5 thousand adverse events reports arrived. By analysing these reports, causal research was conducted and recommendations were made to prevent these causes. OBJECTIVE: Based on the results of the causal research, the identification of the most important causes of adverse events within the Hungarian healthcare settings, and the creation of recommendations on how to tackle these causes. METHODS: To identify possible causes and actions that can be made, a literature survey was conducted for each area. Descriptive statistics was conducted to identify possible associations, after which Ishikawa chart was used to search for possible root-causes. Possible solutions were gathered via focus groups discussions. Summary tables were created based on the results of these focus groups. RESULTS: Nine main groups of causes were identified: regulation; following regulations; shortcomings of activities that should be carried out; not learning from previous events; education; human resources; communication and documentation; the usage of devices; problems with the infrastructure. The recommended solutions can be grouped into six areas: actions regarding the creation and everyday usage of regulations; organising and conducting educations; procurement based on needs; improving communications; learning from mistakes and adverse events; using motivation tools. CONCLUSION: The analysis made at the national level can be the basis to identify local circumstances and areas of improvement. This requires dedicated leadership, adequate patient safety knowledge and perspective to achieve changes and willingness to make changes. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(6): 236-245.

Reducing the risk of patient suicide in Tuscany.

Patient suicide is one of the most frequent incidents in healthcare facilities to be reported to the National Observatory of Sentinel Events in Italy. Despite national initiatives, in Tuscany potentially preventable patient suicides still occur in both acute and community care settings. We describe here an aggregated qualitative analysis of 14 patient suicides that took place in public health services between 2017 and 2018. We outline the methodology and results of an improvement action we enacted in the healthcare system that involved reviewing and reinforcing relevant managerial strategies and clinical activities, with the aim of reducing potentially preventable patient suicides.

[What regulations have launched autonomous communities to going forward on patient safety culture in healthcare organizations?] / ¿Qué normativas han desarrollado las comunidades autónomas para avanzar en cultura de seguridad del paciente en sus organizaciones sanitarias?

INTRODUCTION: Patient Safety Culture is based on learning from incidents, developing preventive strategies to reduce the likelihood to happen and recognizing and accompanying those who have suffered unnecessary and involuntary harm derived from the health care received. To go ahead on patient safety culture entails facilitating the implementation of these behaviors and attitudes in healthcare professionals. Objective was to describe the regulations of some autonomous communities and national proposals for regulations changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Search of normative changes made in the autonomous communities of Catalonia, Navarra and the Basque Country. Proposals for legislative changes at national level were agreed. RESULTS: Activities and normative changes made in the autonomous communities of Catalonia, Navarre and the Basque Country are described and proposals for normative changes at the national level at short-term and long-term changes are made. In such a way that it is easier to advance in creating culture of patient safety in the whole National Health System CONCLUSION: Currently there is no global regulation that facilitates to advance in patient safety culture. Changes at the national legislation level are essential. It is at the Inter-territorial Council where the proposed legislative amendment should be defined, promoted by the representatives of the health systems of the autonomous communities.

Medication errors in pediatric inpatients: a study based on a national mandatory reporting system.

The aim was to describe medication errors (MEs) in hospitalized children reported to the national mandatory reporting and learning system, the Danish Patient Safety Database (DPSD). MEs were extracted from DPSD from the 5-year period of 2010-2014. We included reports from public hospitals on patients aged 0-17 years and categorized by reporters as medication-related. Reports from psychiatric wards and outpatient clinics were excluded. A ME was defined as any medication-related error occurring in the medication process whether harmful or not. MEs were categorized as harmful if they resulted in actual harm or interventions to prevent harm. MEs were further categorized according to occurrence in the medication process, type of error, and the medicines involved. A total of 2071 MEs including 487 harmful MEs were identified. Most MEs occurred during prescribing (40.8%), followed by dispensing (38.7%). Harmful MEs occurred mainly during dispensing (40.3%). Dosing errors were the most reported type of error, 47.7% of all MEs and 45.4% of harmful MEs. Antibiotics and analgesics were the most frequently reported medication classes. Common medicines associated with MEs included morphine, paracetamol, and gentamicin. MEs caused no harm (74.9%), mild (11.7%), moderate (10.5%), or severe harm (1.3%), but none were lethal. CONCLUSION: MEs in hospitalized children occur in all medication processes and mainly involve dosing errors. Strategies should be developed to prevent MEs as these still threaten medication safety in pediatric inpatients. What is known: • Hospitalized children are more likely to experience medication errors than adults. • Voluntary national and local reporting and learning systems have previously been used to describe the nature and types of medication errors. What is new: • Medication errors in hospitalized children occur in all steps of the medication process, most frequently involving dosing errors and most commonly involving morphine, paracetamol, and gentamicin. • Of the medication errors, 1.3% cause severe harm, but no fatal errors were reported.

A nationwide investigation of radiation therapy event reporting-and-learning systems: Can standards be improved?

INTRODUCTION: Variation exists between event reporting-and-learning systems utilised in radiation therapy. Due to the impact of errors associated with this field of medicine, evidence-based and rigorous systems are imperative. The implementation of such systems facilitates the reactive enhancement of patient safety following an event. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Irish event reporting-and-learning procedures against the current literature using a developed evidence-based process map, and to propose recommendations as to how the national standard could be improved. METHODS: Radiation Therapy Service Managers of all Irish radiation therapy institutions (n = 12) were invited to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire. Included in the questionnaire was a reporting-and-learning process map developed from evidence-based literature, which was used to assess the institution's practice through the use of vignettes. Frequency analysis of closed-ended questions and thematic analysis of open-ended questions was performed to assess the data. RESULTS: A 91.7% response rate was achieved. The following areas were found to have the most variation with the evidence-based process map: event classification, external reporting, and dissemination of lessons-learned to a wider audience. Recommendations to standardise practice were made. CONCLUSION: Opportunities for improvement exist within event reporting-and-learning systems of Irish radiation therapy institutions and recommendations have been made on these. These findings can provide learning for other countries with similar reporting systems.

[Role of reporting and learning systems in the improvement of patient safety]. / A jelentési és tanulórendszerek szerepe a betegbiztonság javításában.

The principles and requirements of a patient safety related reporting and learning system were defined by the World Health Organization Draft Guidelines for Adverse Event Reporting and Learning Systems published in 2005. Since then more and more Hungarian health care organizations aim to improve their patient safety culture. In order to support this goal the NEVES reporting and learning system and the series of Patient Safety Forums for training and consultation were launched in 2006 and significantly renewed recently. Current operative modifications to the Health Law emphasize patient safety, making the introduction of these programs once again necessary.