Patient Safety Research in China: A Literature Review

Abstract

Objective A number of articles on patient safety have been published in Chinese‐language journals in last decade. However, until now there have been no studies of their overall quality or contribution to current thinking. This study explored the themes and designs of studies on patient safety published in Chinese‐language journals. Method We searched the major Chinese databases, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) and Chinese Journals Full‐text Database (CNKI), for Chinese‐language patient safety research papers published between January 2001 and December 2010. We analyzed the articles’ publication years, research themes, author affiliations, and research methodologies. Quality and statistical methods were only appraised based on study design type. Results In the decade studied, a total of 6,336 articles were included. 2008 saw the greatest number of patient safety articles published in China (865). There were 11 journals which each published at least 55 relevant articles over 10 years. The most popular topic of patient safety studies was nosocomial infection (5,182/81.79%). Non‐comparative studies accounted for the majority of the literature (4,390/ 69.3%); of these, most were case series (4,080/92.94%). Comparative studies accounted for only 2.6% of the studies found (167). Most of the first authors of included articles worked at hospitals (5,193), many in nursing departments (2,044). Conclusions There was no change trend in the number of articles on patient safety research published in Chinese in the past 10 years. Most articles described non‐comparative studies, which lack rigorous designs. More methodologically rigorous designs are needed to improve the overall quality of patient safety research in China.

Literature review regarding patient safety culture

“…Comparative studies and systematic reviews that are considered of better quality in design were very rare in all the included articles. Our findings were similar to those in other patient safety study . More rigorously designed methodologies have been generally encouraged in patient safety research in recent days by WHO Patient Safety Program addressing that it is based on the principle that effective improvement requires sound local evidence about the nature and extent of existing problems and risks including producing high‐quality patient safety research by selecting and implementing the most appropriate methods.…”

“…To date, many countries have initiated patient safety culture research, especially in developed countries . On a global basis, several international organizations have significantly contributed to the promotion of the culture of patient safety, such as the World Alliance for Patient Safety, the National Patient Safety Agency in the UK, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in USA, etc . Our recent initial literature searching on patient safety including Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Chinese Journals Full‐text Database has also yielded a total of 40,375 relevant studies .…”

Changing patient safety culture in China: a case study of an experimental Chinese hospital from a comparative perspective

“…In Mainland China, a focus on patient safety occurred no earlier than 2007. 13 Moreover, while there have been many influential studies on patient safety in developed countries, such as those mentioned above, a review of Chinese patient safety studies 14 concluded that the overall quality of those studies needs improvement, especially in terms of methodological rigor.…”

Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture among Triage Nurses in the Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Many staff with insufficient experience and inadequate attention to patient safety represent a risk to patients and other nurses [69]. Nurses play a central role in improving the patient safety culture [18] and addressing patient safety issues [70] as they monitor patients' clinical conditions, detect errors, and understand care processes and system weaknesses to provide high-quality care [17]. In work environments with a patient safety-focused program, the leadership can positively influence the effectiveness of employees' work, their awareness, and their involvement in improving the quality and safety of care [71].…”