Qualitative Exploration of Perceptions of Patient Safety and Patient Involvement
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient and relative/informal carer perceptions of patient safety and patient involvement in patient safety: a qualitative exploration
IRAS ID
180881
Contact name
Emily Barrow
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
Significant progress has been made in the modern patient safety movement since the 1999 publication of 'To Err is Human' by the Institute of Medicine. It is suggested that because of their central role in healthcare, patients are uniquely able to contribute to error prevention and the safety of their care in hospital. Research has shown that patients are willing and able to be involved in safety, but that this does not translate into engagement with safety behaviours. This is influenced by the perceived impact their involvement may have upon the professional-patient relationship. Many interventions exist that aim to involve patients in safety but the approaches to date have been healthcare professional defined. Patient safety is defined in overwhelmingly clinical terms and implemented and measured through clinical means; patients are therefore excluded from contribution beyond compliance to expert defined rules. Furthermore, empirical data suggests that patients and healthcare professionals have different perceptions of patient safety; however, this, and the contributory role of the relative or informal carer, has been minimally explored. This is a qualitative exploration through semi-structured interviews of patient and relative/informal carer knowledge, understanding and perceptions of patient safety and involvement in patient safety. It will consider patients from a broad range of clinical specialities across their patient journey, their relatives/informal carers, plus patients who have been affected by patient safety events.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0694
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion