Radiology department, human factors and organizational perspectives: using action research to improve patient safety

Abstract

BackgroundAction research is a participatory research method based on active cooperation between researchers and subjects. In clinical practice, action research enables active involvement of workers in developing and implementing actions promoting patient safety. This article describes a participatory action research project that was conducted in the radiology department of a tertiary care university hospital. The main objectives were: identifying potential adverse events in the department of radiology, and offering a proactive approach to improving patient safety.MethodsPhase one of the study included observing 100 patients in three units of the department and identifying potential adverse events using an observation form. According to the data obtained from the observations, multidisciplinary research teams developed and initiated, together with front-line workers, four types of interventions: ergonomic interventions in work environment design, interventions in work procedure and task design, training and guidance, and managerial interventions. Phase two included evaluation of the interventions after six months of implementation.ResultsResults showed different weaknesses in each of the three radiology units tested, including incomplete medical information necessary for performing the radiological procedure, and discontinuity of care. Post-intervention observations showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of potential adverse events. At the Angiography unit, potential adverse events related to incomplete medical information dropped from 50% to 32%, and at the CT unit they dropped from 70% to 23%. At the MRI unit potential adverse events related to discontinuity of care dropped from 61% to 19%.ConclusionsThe current study demonstrates the value of action research in non-hospitalizing health units and the benefits of cooperation between medical teams and human factor professionals in promoting patient safety. Methods similar to those described in the current paper are applicable to medical work teams in a broad range of practices.

Hospital organizational environment and staff satisfaction in China: A large‐scale survey

“…Job satisfaction could influence the attitude of the staff to patients, medical performances and patient outcomes . Burnout, medical errors and medical malpractices are related with career satisfaction and with the mental status and occupational health of physicians and nurses …”

Developing a Strategy Map to Improve Public Hospitals Performance with Balanced Scorecard and DEMATEL Approach

“…Other studies also showed that staff satisfaction rate has influence on staff attitude towards patients, clinical func-tions, and patients' results (38,39). Also, job burnout, medical error, and malpractice are related to staff satisfaction (38,40,41). Therefore, investment for empowering this perspective of hospital performance can improve other per- spectives and totally promote hospital performance.…”

Action research as sustainable healthcare quality improvement: Advances in neonatal care emphasising collaboration, communication and empowerment

“…It contributed to improved teamwork in the maternity section of this district hospital, which was part of the transformation that took place in practice. Tourgeman-Bashkin et al (2013) used a participatory action research project in Israel to improve patient safety in a radiology department as multidisciplinary research teams identified potential adverse events and developed interventions. These authors acknowledged the value of action research in health settings.…”