Safety as Experienced by Patients Themselves: A Finnish Survey of the Most Recent Period of Care

Abstract

We examined patients' experiences of patient safety and participation in promoting safe care during their most recent care period. A survey of patients (N = 175) revealed that treatment, medication, and device safety were mostly experienced as very good or excellent, but responses varied by age and experience. Patients ages 66-75 were most critical of treatment and medication safety. Device safety was rated the worst aspect of safety. Twenty percent of respondents had experienced errors at some time during their care. Patients who had experienced errors and those who were treated at inpatient wards versus a day surgery unit were most critical towards patient participation. Open and transparent error management involving patients is needed to promote treatment, medication, and especially device safety.

Patient participation in patient safety still missing: Patient safety experts' views

“…Although perceiving a need to increase patient participation, they assessed the levels of actual PS in their institutions as mostly ‘acceptable’. According to a recent survey patients assess it more highly: 89% of respondents rated the PS level as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ and only 11% rated it as ‘acceptable’ or ‘poor’ . This might be attributable to Finnish people's general belief that their healthcare is of high quality, half of them judging it to be even better than in other EU member states, and only 34% thinking that it is likely that they could be harmed by hospital care .…”

“…According to a recent survey patients assess it more highly: 89% of respondents rated the PS level as 'excellent' or 'very good' and only 11% rated it as 'acceptable' or 'poor'. 27 This might be attributable to Finnish people's general belief that their healthcare is of high quality, half of them judging it to be even better than in other EU member states, and only 34% thinking that it is likely that they could be harmed by hospital care. 28 Organizations' error management practices proved to be quite diverse.…”

Parent-Reported Errors and Adverse Events in Hospitalized Children

“…16 Another study found that 20% of patients reported experiencing verified medical errors. 17 A few adult studies have found that patients identify numerous verified errors and AEs not otherwise documented in the medical record. [18][19][20] Pediatric data on patient and family involvement in error and AE detection are limited [21][22][23][24] but similarly suggest that families often report verified errors and AEs that are not detected through other sources.…”

Results of a population-based-assessment: we need better communication and more profound patient involvement

“…According to a Finnish survey, patients between 66 and 75 years of age were most critical concerning treatment safety and 20% reported errors during their hospital stay [18]; however, it became evident that not every patient would report an adverse event. According to the recent survey, 53.6% would address a written complaint to the hospital in case something did not function satisfactorily and this result is in line with results from the Special Eurobarometer [13].…”