Patient Safety Incidents in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings: An Expert Opinion Survey

Abstract

Patient safety in psychiatric inpatient facilities remains under-researched despite its crucial importance. This study aims to address this gap by using expert opinion to estimate the frequency of diverse patient safety incidents (PSIs) in psychiatric settings and to compare it with the existing literature. Utilizing a seven-step approach, a questionnaire based on the World Health Organization’s International Classification for Patient Safety was developed and deployed. A total of 33 expert opinions were collected. Results showed a higher estimated incidence of PSIs in psychiatric settings compared to general healthcare, highlighting categories such as patient behavior, medication, and infrastructure as significant contributors. Experts emphasized the prevalence of incidents related to behavioral issues and inadequate infrastructure, areas often overlooked in the existing literature. Unlike general settings, psychiatric facilities appear more vulnerable to specific PSIs, such as those related to medication and building safety, underscoring the need for targeted safety measures. Our study suggests the existence of significant discrepancies between expert opinion and available research, with several underexplored domains in psychiatric patient safety.