Publication:

A comparative study on patient safety with reference to methods of detection of adverse events in a tertiary care hospital in North India

Background Considerable investments have been made to devise methods to detect actual and potential adverse events in health care in order to address risk and improve patient safety. Objective of the study was to compare the methods of detection of number of adverse events taking place in admitted patients.

Method A prospective study for a period of one year. Three adverse events detection modules were studied, i.e. current record review, Incident reporting and cases discussed in Mortality Meets. A World Health Organization structured questionnaire on patient safety Review form-1 (RF-1) and Review form-2 (RF-2) was used. RF-1 form was used to screen adverse events. Screened positive patients were subjected to RF-2 form to calculate preventability of adverse events. Adverse events as well as preventability were compared to detect the preferred module of detection of errors in care.

Results Current record review was able to detect 15.5% of adverse events with 71.33% preventability. Incident reporting module was able to detect only 0.73% of adverse events with 39% of preventability and mortality meets were able to study only 0.17% of adverse events with 47% of preventability.

Conclusion Current record review was found to be preferred module of detection of adverse events.