Developing a programme of safer care for aortic surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The development of a programme of safer care for patients undergoing aortic surgery
IRAS ID
227888
Contact name
Andrew Batchelder
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Healthcare is a high risk industry; approximately 10% of hospital admissions are complicated by errors. In aortic surgery, approximately three errors occur per operation. The most frequent major or harm-producing errors are communication failures. Error frequency directly correlates with clinical outcomes; hence, increased error frequency is associated with an increased risk of re-operation, development of major complications and post-operative death.
One of the greatest barriers to change is the prevailing culture and this continues to pose a significant challenge; it is made yet harder by growing pressure from rising demands, resource limitations and consequent low staff morale and disengagement. In light of the importance of communicative and interpersonal failures it has been proposed that interventions should target these aspects of the care process. There is a growing body of evidence highlighting the merits of simulation exercises and multi-disciplinary team training; such tools may provide a method of enhancing clinical care, particularly in team-oriented, high-risk settings such as the operating theatre.
The aim of this study is to develop a programme of safer care for patients undergoing aortic surgery. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with medical and theatre staff from St Mary's Hospital about their vascular surgery unit's team training programme. These interviews will explore perceptions of the training programme and its impact. Thematic analysis will then be undertaken and this will be used to generate a questionnaire on training needs and preferences. The questionnaire will be validated and administered to all team members from the vascular surgery units at St Mary's Hospital, London and the University Hospitals of Leicester. The data collected will be used to construct a team-based educational safety programme which will subsequently be piloted at the University Hospitals of Leicester. The pilot will be evaluated through observation of error frequencies in aortic procedures using a validated tool.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0568
Date of REC Opinion
23 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion