Reducing preventable adverse events in obstetrics by improving interprofessional communication skills – Results of an intervention study

Abstract

Background Progress in medicine involves the structured analysis and communication of errors. Comparability between the individual disciplines is only possible to a limited extent and obstetrics plays a special role: the expectation of a self-determined and joyful event meets with possibly serious complications in highly complex care situations. This must be managed by an interdisciplinary team with an increasingly condensed workload. Adverse events cannot be completely controlled. However, taking controllable risk factors into account and with a focused communication a reduction of preventable adverse events is possible. In the present study, the effect of interprofessional team training on preventable adverse events in an obstetric department was investigated. Methods The training consisted of a 4-h interdisciplinary training session based on psychological theories. Preventable adverse events were defined in six categories according to potential patterns of causation. 2,865 case records of a refence year (2018) and 2,846 case records of the year after the intervention (2020) were retrospectively evaluated. To determine the communication training effect, the identified preventable adverse events of 2018 and 2020 were compared according to categories and analyzed for obstetrically relevant controllable and uncontrollable risk factors. Questionnaires were used to identify improvements in self-reported perceptions and behaviors. Results The results show that preventable adverse events in obstetrics were significantly reduced after the intervention compared to the reference year before the intervention (13.35% in the year 2018 vs. 8.83% in 2020, p < 0.005). Moreover, obstetrically controllable risk factors show a significant reduction in the year after the communication training. The questionnaires revealed an increase in perceived patient safety (t(28) = 4.09, p < .001), perceived communication behavior (t(30) = -2.95, p = .006), and self-efficacy to cope with difficult situations (t(28) = -2.64, p = .013). Conclusions This study shows that the communication training was able to reduce preventable adverse events and thus increase patient safety. In the future, regular trainings should be implemented alongside medical emergency trainings in obstetrics to improve patient safety. Additionally, this leads to the strengthening of human factors and ultimately also to the prevention of second victims. Further research should follow up implementing active control groups and a randomized-controlled trail study design. Trial registration The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of University Hospital (protocol code 114/19-FSt/Sta, date of approval 29 May 2019), study registration: NCT03855735.

Are 6 more accurate than 4? The delivery mode and its influence on postpartum depression and PTSD.

“…If women lack this experience of giving birth in a "natural" (and often socially idealized) way, they may blame themselves for not making it and feel feelings of failure or guilt [39], which in turn is associated with higher depression scores. This is supported by the ndings of a recent German study [40], which showed that women without a natural childbirth are more likely to suffer from feelings of guilt and higher depressive symptomatology. Following on from this it seems explainable, that although AVD is associated with worse delivery experiences [41], women had no elevated depression levels.…”

Nurse and Physician Perceptions and Decision Making During Interdisciplinary Communication

“…40 Shared mental models are enhanced through education, support a positive team environment, and reduce adverse patient outcomes. 41 The focus of both nurse and physician participants on nurse-initiated patient care communication in this study highlighted the importance of nurses' understanding of significant changes in patient status during decision making and communication of these changes with physicians. Physicians in this study valued effective nurse communication to support their understanding of patient status when making patient care decisions.…”

“…Other research results indicate that well-designed teams similarly develop an understanding of each team member's skills, well-defined roles, team education, and mutual respect 40 . Shared mental models are enhanced through education, support a positive team environment, and reduce adverse patient outcomes 41 …”

Impact of an educational intervention on patient safety culture among gynecology-obstetrics’ healthcare professionals

“…Among the numerous healthcare settings, obstetrics units are areas of care that particularly account for a significant amount of complaints [ 4 , 5 ]. They present a significant risk of morbidity and mortality for both mothers and fetus, requiring an effective safety environment to avoid negative outcomes [ 4 , 5 ]. Providing obstetric care involves several interrelated factors making it at a higher risk of errors than other specialties [ 6 ].…”