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Towards better patient safety in otolaryngology: characteristics of patient injuries and their relationship with items on the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
Author(s) -
Helmiö P.,
Blomgren K.,
Lehtivuori T.,
Palonen R.,
Aaltonen L.M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/coa.12396
Subject(s) - checklist , medicine , otorhinolaryngology , patient safety , medical record , adverse effect , medical emergency , medline , retrospective cohort study , injury prevention , occupational safety and health , emergency medicine , poison control , family medicine , health care , surgery , psychology , political science , law , economics , cognitive psychology , economic growth , pathology
Objectives Increasing knowledge of factors contributing to medical adverse events has influenced the development of preventive policies and protocols, the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist being the most widely known. Despite growing evidence of the checklist's effectiveness in surgery, its role in preventing adverse events in otolaryngology is unclear. We assessed patient injury‐contributing factors in otolaryngology and their relationship with WHO checklist items. Study design A retrospective claim record study of national patient insurance charts in Finland. Setting and participants The records of all accepted patient injury claims in otolaryngology between 2001 and 2011 were searched and reviewed by two otolaryngologists. Operation‐related injuries were evaluated in detail. Factors contributing to injury were identified, classified and compared with items on the WHO checklist. We also estimated whether the injury might have been prevented with a properly used checklist. Results In the 10‐year study period, 188 (84.3%) of the 223 patient injuries were associated with operative care. Of these, 142 (75.5%) occurred in the operation theatre, and in 121 cases (64.4%), technical error in performing surgery was the primary cause of injury. In 18 injuries (9.6%), the error corresponded to a checklist item. Nine injuries (4.8%) could have been prevented with a properly used checklist. Conclusions Patient injuries in otolaryngology are strongly related to operative care. The WHO checklist is one suitable tool for error prevention.