Reporting and preventing medical mishaps: lessons from non-medical near miss reporting systems.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Barach P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC1117768 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Reporting and preventing medical mishaps: lessons from non-medical near miss reporting systems.
BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20000301 7237
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Project description:Objective:To analyse and improve the Namibian maternity care system by implementing maternal near-miss surveillance during 1 October 2018 and 31 March 2019, and identifying the challenges and benefits of such data collection. Methods:From the results of an initial feasibility study, we adapted the World Health Organization's criteria defining a maternal near miss to the Namibian health-care system. We visited most (27 out of 35) participating facilities before implementation and provided training on maternal near-miss identification and data collection. We visited all facilities at the end of the surveillance period to verify recorded data and to give staff the opportunity to provide feedback. Findings:During the 6-month period, we recorded 37?106 live births, 298 maternal near misses (8.0 per 1000 live births) and 23 maternal deaths (62.0 per 100?000 live births). We observed that obstetric haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders were the most common causes of maternal near misses (each 92/298; 30.9%). Of the 49 maternal near misses due to pregnancies with abortive outcomes, ectopic pregnancy was the most common cause (36/298; 12.1%). Fetal or neonatal outcomes were poor; only 50.3% (157/312) of the infants born to maternal near-miss mothers went home with their mother. Conclusion:Maternal near-miss surveillance is a useful intervention to identify within-country challenges, such as lack of access to caesarean section or hysterectomy. Knowledge of these challenges can be used by policy-makers and programme managers in the development of locally tailored targeted interventions to improve maternal outcome in their setting.
| S-EPMC7411319 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWith the exponential expansion of clinical trials conducted in (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) and VISTA (Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, and Argentina) countries, corresponding gains in cost and enrolment efficiency quickly outpace the consonant metrics in traditional countries in North America and European Union. However, questions still remain regarding the quality of data being collected in these countries. We used ethnographic, mapping and computer simulation studies to identify/address areas of threat to near miss events for data quality in two cancer trial sites in Brazil.Methodology/principal findingsTwo sites in Sao Paolo and Rio Janeiro were evaluated using ethnographic observations of workflow during subject enrolment and data collection. Emerging themes related to threats to near miss events for data quality were derived from observations. They were then transformed into workflows using UML-AD and modeled using System Dynamics. 139 tasks were observed and mapped through the ethnographic study. The UML-AD detected four major activities in the workflow evaluation of potential research subjects prior to signature of informed consent, visit to obtain subject?s informed consent, regular data collection sessions following study protocol and closure of study protocol for a given project. Field observations pointed to three major emerging themes: (a) lack of standardized process for data registration at source document, (b) multiplicity of data repositories and (c) scarcity of decision support systems at the point of research intervention. Simulation with policy model demonstrates a reduction of the rework problem.Conclusions/significancePatterns of threats to data quality at the two sites were similar to the threats reported in the literature for American sites. The clinical trial site managers need to reorganize staff workflow by using information technology more efficiently, establish new standard procedures and manage professionals to reduce near miss events and save time/cost. Clinical trial sponsors should improve relevant support systems.
| S-EPMC3387261 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundAdverse medical events affect 10% of American households annually, inducing a variety of harms and attitudinal changes. The impact of adverse events on perceived abandonment by patients and their care partners has not been methodically assessed.ObjectiveTo identify ways in which providers, patients and families responded to medical mishaps, linking these qualitatively and statistically to reported feelings of abandonment and sequelae induced by perceived abandonment.MethodsMixed-methods analysis of responses to the Massachusetts Medical Errors Recontact survey with participants reporting a medical error within the past 5 years. The survey consisted of forty closed and open-ended questions examining adverse medical events and their consequences. Respondents were asked whether they felt 'that the doctors abandoned or betrayed you or your family'. Open-ended responses were analysed with a coding schema by two clinician coders.ResultsOf the 253 respondents, 34.5% initially and 20% persistently experienced abandonment. Perceived abandonment could be traced to interactions before (18%), during (34%) and after (45%) the medical mishap. Comprehensive post-incident communication reduced abandonment for patients staying with the provider associated with the mishap. However, 68.4% of patients perceiving abandonment left their original provider; for them, post-error communication did not increase the probability of resolution. Abandonment accounted for half the post-event loss of trust in clinicians.LimitationsSurvey-based data may under-report the impact of perceived errors on vulnerable populations. Moreover, patients may not be cognizant of all forms of adverse events or all sequelae to those events. Our data were drawn from a single state and time period.ConclusionAddressing the deleterious impact of persisting abandonment merits attention in programmes responding to patient safety concerns. Enhancing patient engagement in the aftermath of an adverse medical event has the potential to reinforce therapeutic alliances between patients and their subsequent clinicians.
| S-EPMC11331972 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThis article presents the mapping of horizons scanning systems (HSS) for medical devices, conducted by the Medical Devices Working Group of the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI MDWG). It provides an overview of the identified HSS, highlights similarities and differences between the systems, and lessons learned.MethodsPotentially relevant HSS were identified through literature searches, scan of an overview of EuroScan members, and input from the IHSI MDWG members. Structured information was collected from organizations that confirmed having an HSS for medical devices.ResultsSixteen initiatives could be identified, of which 11 are currently ongoing. The purposes of the HSS range from raising awareness of trends and new developments to managing informed decisions on innovative health services in hospitals. The time-horizon is most often 3 years up to a few months before market entry. Three models of identification of new technologies crystallized: a reactive (stakeholders outside HSS inform), a pro-active (actively searching multifold sources), and a hybrid model. Prioritization is often conducted by separate committees via scoring or debate. The outputs focus either on in-depth information of single technologies or on a class of technologies or on technologies in specific disease areas.ConclusionsThe identified HSS share the common experience that horizon scanning (HS) for medical devices is a resource-intensive exercise that requires a dedicated and skilled team. Insights into the identified HSS and their experiences will be used in the continued work of the IHSI MDWG on its proposal for an IHSI HSS for medical devices.
| S-EPMC11579676 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundAustralia has a maternal mortality ratio of 6.8/100000 live births, a rate akin to other developed countries and consistent with the high level care provided within the Australian health care system. With maternal mortality at very low levels assessment of severe maternal morbidity is increasingly being used as an indicator of quality of care and to identify areas for improvement in maternity services. The WHO maternal 'near miss' criteria is a standardised tool has been increasingly used worldwide to assess maternal morbidity and standards of maternity care. The aim of this study was to determine the rate and aetiology of maternal 'near misses' at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) using the WHO near miss criteria.MethodsCases of maternal 'near miss' were prospectively identified at KEMH using the WHO near miss criteria over a period of 6 months (1st December 2014 to 31st May 2015). A descriptive analysis of the results was undertaken.ResultsDuring the study there were 2773 live births with 19 women who had 'near miss' presentations. There were no maternal deaths. The maternal 'near miss' index rate was 7/1000 live births. The main causes of obstetric 'near miss' were obstetric haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia and early pregnancy complications.ConclusionThe rate of maternal 'near miss' at KEMH was 7/1000 live births and post-partum haemorrhage was identified as the most common aetiology, consistent with other studies in developed countries. Further research comparing currently utilised local, state and national morbidity systems would allow further validation of the WHO near miss criteria in Australian settings. The study presented in this publication was undertaken at King Edward Memorial Hospital, 374 Bagot Rd., Subiaco WA 6008.
| S-EPMC5996518 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesNear misses include conditions with potential for harm, intercepted medical errors, and events requiring monitoring or intervention to prevent harm. Little is reported on near misses or their importance for quality and safety in the emergency department (ED).MethodsThis is a secondary evaluation of data from a retrospective study of the ED Trigger Tool (EDTT) at an urban, academic ED (data from October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015; 92,859 eligible visits). All patients 18 years and older completing a visit were eligible. We ran the EDTT, a computerized query for triggers on 13 months of ED visit data, reviewing 5582 selected records using a 2-tiered approach. Events were categorized by occurrence (ED vs present on arrival [POA]), severity, omission/commission, and type, using a taxonomy with categories, subcategories, and cross-cutting modifiers.ResultsWe identified 1458 ED near misses in 1269 of 5582 records (22.7%) and 80 near misses that were POA. Patient care events represented most ED near misses, including delays in diagnosis, treatment, and failure to monitor, primarily driven by ED boarding and crowding. Medication events were second most common (17%), including 80 medication administration errors. Of 80 POA events, 42% were related to overanticoagulation. We estimate that 19.3% of all ED visits include a near miss.ConclusionsNear-miss events are relatively common (22.7% of our sample, 19.3% in the population) and are associated with an increased risk for an adverse event. Most events were patient care related (77%) involving delays due to crowding and ED boarding followed by medication administration errors. The EDTT is a high-yield approach for detecting important near misses and latent system deficiencies that impact patient safety.
| S-EPMC9974611 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Near-misses in gambling games are losing events that come close to a win. Near-misses were previously shown to recruit reward-related brain regions including the ventral striatum, and to invigorate gambling behavior, supposedly by fostering an illusion of control. Given that pathological gamblers are particularly vulnerable to such cognitive illusions, their persistent gambling behavior might result from an amplified striatal sensitivity to near-misses. In addition, animal studies have shown that behavioral responses to near-miss-like events are sensitive to dopamine, but this dopaminergic influence has not been tested in humans. To investigate these hypotheses, we recruited 22 pathological gamblers and 22 healthy controls who played a slot machine task delivering wins, near-misses and full-misses, inside an fMRI scanner. Each participant played the task twice, once under placebo and once under a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist (sulpiride 400 mg), in a double-blind, counter-balanced design. Participants were asked about their motivation to continue gambling throughout the task. Across all participants, near-misses elicited higher motivation to continue gambling and increased striatal responses compared with full-misses. Crucially, pathological gamblers showed amplified striatal responses to near-misses compared with controls. These group differences were not observed following win outcomes. In contrast to our hypothesis, sulpiride did not induce any reliable modulation of brain responses to near-misses. Together, our results demonstrate that pathological gamblers have amplified brain responses to near-misses, which likely contribute to their persistent gambling behavior. However, there is no evidence that these responses are influenced by dopamine. These results have implications for treatment and gambling regulation.
| S-EPMC4987843 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Gambling is a common recreational activity that becomes dysfunctional in a subset of individuals, with DSM "pathological gambling" regarded as the most severe form. During gambling, players experience a range of cognitive distortions that promote an overestimation of the chances of winning. Near-miss outcomes are thought to fuel these distortions. We observed previously that near misses recruited overlapping circuitry to monetary wins in a study in healthy volunteers (Clark et al., 2009). The present study sought to extend these observations in regular gamblers and relate brain responses to an index of gambling severity. Twenty regular gamblers, who varied in their involvement from recreational playing to probable pathological gambling, were scanned while performing a simplified slot machine task that delivered occasional monetary wins, as well as near-miss and full-miss nonwin outcomes. In the overall group, near-miss outcomes were associated with a significant response in the ventral striatum, which was also recruited by monetary wins. Gambling severity, measured with the South Oaks Gambling Screen, predicted a greater response in the dopaminergic midbrain to near-miss outcomes. This effect survived controlling for clinical comorbidities that were present in the regular gamblers. Gambling severity did not predict win-related responses in the midbrain or elsewhere. These results demonstrate that near-miss events during gambling recruit reward-related brain circuitry in regular players. An association with gambling severity in the midbrain suggests that near-miss outcomes may enhance dopamine transmission in disordered gambling, which extends neurobiological similarities between pathological gambling and drug addiction.
| S-EPMC2929454 | biostudies-other
Project description:ObjectiveTo estimate the direct costs of treating women with maternal near misses and potentially life-threatening conditions in Kenya and the factors associated with catastrophic health expenditure for these women and their households.MethodsAs part of a prospective, nationally representative study of all women with near misses during pregnancy and childbirth or within 42 days of delivery or termination of pregnancy, we compared the cost of treating maternal near-miss cases admitted to referral facilities with that of women with potentially life-threatening conditions. We used logistic regression analysis to assess clinical, demographic and household factors associated with catastrophic health expenditure.FindingsOf 3025 women, 1180 (39.0%) had maternal near misses and 1845 (61.0%) had potentially life-threatening conditions. The median cost of treating maternal near misses was 7135 Kenyan shillings (71 United States dollars, US$) compared with 2690 Kenyan shillings (US$ 27) for potentially life-threatening conditions. Of the women who made out-of-pocket payments, 26.4% (122/462) experienced catastrophic expenditure. The highest median costs for treatment of near misses were in Nairobi and Central region (22 220 Kenyan shillings; US$ 222). Women with ectopic pregnancy complications and pregnancy-related infections had the highest median costs of treatment, at 7800 Kenyan shillings (US$ 78) and 3000 Kenyan shillings (US$ 30), respectively. Pregnancy-related infections, abortion, ectopic pregnancy, and treatment in secondary and tertiary facilities were significantly associated with catastrophic expenditure.ConclusionThe cost of treating maternal near misses is high and leads to catastrophic spending through out-of-pocket payments. Universal health coverage needs to be expanded to guarantee financial protection for vulnerable women.
| S-EPMC8640681 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionWHO proposes a set of organ-failure based criteria for maternal near miss. Our objective was to evaluate what implementation of these criteria would mean for the analysis of a cohort of 386 women in Thyolo District, Malawi, who sustained severe acute maternal morbidity according to disease-based criteria.Methods and findingsA WHO Maternal Near Miss (MNM) Tool, created to compare disease-, intervention- and organ-failure based criteria for maternal near miss, was completed for each woman, based on a review of all available medical records. Using disease-based criteria developed for the local setting, 341 (88%) of the 386 women fulfilled the WHO disease-based criteria provided by the WHO MNM Tool, 179 (46%) fulfilled the intervention-based criteria, and only 85 (22%) the suggested organ-failure based criteria.ConclusionsIn this low-resource setting, application of these organ-failure based criteria that require relatively sophisticated laboratory and clinical monitoring underestimates the occurrence of maternal near miss. Therefore, these criteria and the suggested WHO approach may not be suited to compare maternal near miss across all settings.
| S-EPMC3556078 | biostudies-literature