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The impact of medical errors on S wiss anaesthesiologists: a cross‐sectional survey
Author(s) -
McLennan S. R.,
EngelGlatter S.,
Meyer A. H.,
Schwappach D. L. B.,
Scheidegger D. H.,
Elger B. S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/aas.12517
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , cross sectional study , coping (psychology) , distress , family medicine , psychiatry , clinical psychology , pathology
Background Clinicians involved in medical errors can experience significant distress. This study aims to examine (1) how medical errors impact anaesthesiologists in key work and life domains; (2) anaesthesiologists' attitudes regarding support after errors; (3) and which anaesthesiologists are most affected by errors. Methods This study is a mailed cross‐sectional survey completed by 281 of the 542 clinically active anaesthesiologists (52% response rate) working at S witzerland's five university hospitals between J uly 2012 and A pril 2013. Results Respondents reported that errors had negatively affected anxiety about future errors (51%), confidence in their ability as a doctor (45%), ability to sleep (36%), job satisfaction (32%), and professional reputation (9%). Respondents' lives were more likely to be affected as error severity increased. Ninety per cent of respondents disagreed that hospitals adequately support them in coping with the stress associated with medical errors. Nearly all of the respondents (92%) reported being interested in psychological counselling after a serious error, but many identified barriers to seeking counselling. However, there were significant differences between departments regarding error‐related stress levels and attitudes about error‐related support. Respondents were more likely to experience certain distress if they were female, older, had previously been involved in a serious error, and were dissatisfied with their last error disclosure. Conclusion Medical errors, even minor errors and near misses, can have a serious effect on clinicians. Health‐care organisations need to do more to support clinicians in coping with the stress associated with medical errors.