Global Priorities for Patient Safety Research
Report from the Research Priority Setting Working Group
Patient safety is a global issue affecting countries at all levels of development. Understanding the magnitude of the problem and the main contributing factors is essential in order to devise appropriate solutions. An international expert working group set up by WHO Patient Safety produced a list of global research priorities that indicate the broad areas where are substantial knowledge gaps and where it is expected that further knowledge will significantly contribute to improving patient safety and reducing harm.
This first exercise must be monitored to assess the acceptability, uptake and usefulness to research commissioners and other bodies, and ultimately their impact on saving lives. The priority list must also be revised periodically to ensure that it remains useful for improving patient safety. These are among the goals of WHO Patient Safety for the upcoming years. To read the report, click on the link below.
Article in the BMJ
In a new article published in the BMJ (14/05/09), WHO's Patient Safety research team explores many current issues and describes its attempt to identify the priorities. The study was led by David Bates, Itziar Larigoitia, Nittita Prasopa-Plaizier and Ashish K Jha working with an expert international group and identified 50 topics relating to Patient Safety.
The study ranks the priorities for patient safety in developing countries, transitional countries and developed nations and identifies the differences and similarities for each. One of the significant outcomes was that issues of effectiveness and cost effectiveness were most important for developing nations while issues of communication and safety culture were ranked most highly for developed nations. Issues for transitional countries tended to incorporate a mix of both sets of priorities.