Management of human factors in aviation and health: potential for patient safety (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND The human factor is one of the contributors to the error. However, health services cannot be organized without considering that professionals can make mistakes. There are mechanisms to avoid them, and aviation is an example of a complex system in managing human factors. OBJECTIVE Characterize management practices to minimize human factors’ influence on incidents in aviation and health areas. METHODS Exploratory field research with a qualitative approach, whose participants were aviators and health professionals with experience in patient safety management, was recruited using snowball sampling. Data collection took place through semi-structured interviews online through the virtual platform Zoom®, and data processing took place through the analysis of categorical thematic content. RESULTS The aviation area proved to be more sensitive to human factors concerning the health area and presented specific human factors management practices to mitigate its influence. CONCLUSIONS Articulating the practices of the two areas is a pillar to enhance patient safety and bring recognition/awareness of the human factors necessary in health. It is necessary to bring aviation as an example of health and learn how they apply safe practices in everyday life.