This study explored how fear of blame and punishment affects different healthcare professions, experience levels and gender. 249 healthcare practitioners were involved, and were asked how fear of blame or punishment resulting from an error which caused no, mild, severe or death of a patient. Extracts: · “blame culture can be defined as a set of… Continue reading A new perspective on blame culture: an experimental study
Tag: healthcare
Open-access healthcare debriefing videos need to incorporate more Safety-II learnings
Are Safety-II concepts used in debriefing? This explored the language and framings used in open access debriefing videos, to ascertain whether the questioning probes deeper into S-I (focus on failure/error) or S-II (focus on normal work, variability, success) questioning. Note: Only 7 videos met inclusion for transcription/evaluation. They note that learning from success isn’t “uncommon… Continue reading Open-access healthcare debriefing videos need to incorporate more Safety-II learnings
Night shift work and indicators of cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This may interest people – a meta-analysis and systematic review of the effects night shift work has on markers of cardiovascular risk. Not a summary – you can read the full open access paper. 81 studies met inclusion criteria – 14 cohort and 67 cross-sectional. Findings: · “Night shift work is associated with increased inflammation · “HDL-C… Continue reading Night shift work and indicators of cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Avoiding ‘second victims’ in healthcare: what support do staff want for coping with patient safety incidents, what do they get and is it effective? A systematic review
This systematic review evaluated evidence for what support staff want vs what they receive, and whether the support is effective. 99 studies were included. Some extracts: · PSI (patient safety incident) lead to emotional shame, guilt, anger, shock, depression, fear, flashbacks, helplessness, fatigue, withdrawal and more · The three most desired support types staff want before and… Continue reading Avoiding ‘second victims’ in healthcare: what support do staff want for coping with patient safety incidents, what do they get and is it effective? A systematic review
The science of human factors: separating fact from fiction
This brief read discussed some of the misconceptions about human factors for healthcare improvement. It’s open access, so you can read the paper yourself. They discuss where training interventions are likely to be appropriate vs not appropriate. More appropriate uses is: · To help familiarise people with new tools or functions, which should include strengths and… Continue reading The science of human factors: separating fact from fiction
When Things Go Right: Safety II in an Academic Emergency Department
This study explored variability and ED clinician proactive adaptations in order to enhance safety in the face of demands and pressures. Data was based on a cross-sectional survey. Background: · Patient safety, according to one agency, is defined as “the prevention of errors, injury, or other preventable harm and reduction of unnecessary harm” · They… Continue reading When Things Go Right: Safety II in an Academic Emergency Department
The harms of promoting ‘Zero Harm’
This brief editorial discussed some challenges to zero harm approaches (‘absolute safety’) in healthcare. I particularly liked how the author argued that not only is zero harm not attainable, in an absolute sense, but “is unknowable”. Some points: · The authors encourage shifting away from ‘absolute safety’ “towards doing a better job of actively managing risk,… Continue reading The harms of promoting ‘Zero Harm’
Safety checklist compliance and a false sense of safety: New directions for research
This discussion paper explored the checklists and false senses of safety. In healthcare they say that probably the best known version of the checklist is the WHO surgical safety checklist. Prior work has generally shown positive effects, like reduced care complications and 30-day mortality rate. Interesting though, studies on compliance rates of the WHO checklist… Continue reading Safety checklist compliance and a false sense of safety: New directions for research
