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Safety as Experienced by Patients Themselves: A Finnish Survey of the Most Recent Period of Care
Author(s) -
Sahlström Merja,
Partanen Pirjo,
Turunen Hannele
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.21589
Subject(s) - patient safety , medicine , emergency medicine , family medicine , medical emergency , health care , economics , economic growth
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. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.