The research cycle: measuring harm
Classic studies in patient safety research
Measuring what goes wrong in health-care involves counting how many patients are harmed or killed each year, and from which types of adverse events:
- medication errors;
- nosocomial infections;
- wrong-site surgery, etc.
This is essential for raising awareness and setting research priorities.
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Baker
ppt, 963kb
Retrospective chart review
Baker GR, Norton PG, Flintoft V, et al. The Canadian adverse events study: the incidence of adverse events among hospital patients in Canada. CMAJ, 2004, 170:1678-1686. -
Donchin
ppt, 710kb
Direct observation mixed methods approach
Donchin Y, Gopher D, Olin M, et al. A look into the nature and causes of human errors in the intensive care unit. Qual. Saf. Health Care 2003, 12;143-147. -
Gandhi
ppt, 989kb
Malpractice claims analysis
Gandhi TK, Kachalia A, Thomas EJ, et al. Missed and delayed diagnoses in the ambulatory setting: a study of closed malpractice claims. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145:488-496. -
Michel
ppt, 886kb
Mixed methods approach
Michel P, Quenon JL, de Sarasqueta AM, Scemama O. Comparison of three methods for estimating rates of adverse events and rates of preventable adverse events in acute care hospitals. BMJ, 2004, 328; 199. -
Seas
ppt, 752kb
Prospective cohort study
Hernandez K, Ramos E, Seas C, Henostroza G, Gotuzzo E. Incidence of and risk factors for surgical-site infections in a Peruvian hospital. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 2005: 473-477.