Introduction of a Novel Patient Safety Advisory: Evaluation of Perceived Information With a Modified QPP Questionnaire-A Case-Control Study.

Abstract

Objectives: Adverse events (AEs) may result in serious injuries or death. AEs occur in approximately 9.2% of hospitalizations, with a potential preventability of 43.5%. The aim of this study was to examine whether use of an illustrated patient safety advisory affected information transfer to inpatients regarding how they can participate in their own care to decrease the risk of AEs.

Methods: All patients in the control (n = 129) and case/intervention (n = 511) groups received verbal information from healthcare personnel. The intervention group also received the illustrated patient safety advisory, "Your safety at the hospital." Before discharge, patients completed the Quality from the Patient's Perspective questionnaire.

Results: Mean patient age was 64.6/62.4 years in the intervention/control group, respectively, and 50% were men. Significant differences between groups were observed for most questions presented from the perceived reality of care perspective, in favor to the intervention group. Patients at surgical wards indicated higher scores on 9 of 12 Quality from the Patient's Perspective questions. Patients with hospital stays ≥4 days, at surgical wards, and living with someone else, placed higher subjective importance to questions concerning, e.g., protection/infection, nutrition, risk of falls and pressure ulcers, and discharge information.

Conclusions: Using an illustrated patient safety advisory to complement oral information about patient safety risks resulted in positive responses and a significant difference was demonstrated in how information is perceived. The safety advisory could be used as a tool to decrease AEs. Patients who live alone may need more focused patient safety information to encourage involvement in their own care.