Are health systems changing in support of patient safety?: A multi-methods evaluation of education, attitudes and practice

Braithwaite, J; Westbrook, MT; Travaglia, JF; Iedema, R; Mallock, NA; Long, D; Nugus, P; Forsyth, R; Jorm, C; Pawsey, M

Are health systems changing in support of patient safety?: A multi-methods evaluation of education, attitudes and practice

Braithwaite, J Westbrook, MT Travaglia, JF

Iedema, R

Mallock, NA Long, D Nugus, P Forsyth, R Jorm, C Pawsey, M

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 2007, 20 (7), pp. 585 - 601
Issue Date:: 2007-01-01

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	2007004253OK.pdf		145.79 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Braithwaite, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Westbrook, MT	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Travaglia, JF https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7537-0466	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Iedema, R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6792-1048	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mallock, NA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Long, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nugus, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Forsyth, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Jorm, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Pawsey, M	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 2007, 20 (7), pp. 585 - 601	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0952-6862	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9615
dc.description.abstract	Purpose - The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a health system-wide safety improvement program (SIP) three to four years after initial implementation. Design/methodology/approach - The study employs multi-methods studies involving questionnaire surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, observational work, ethnographic studies, documentary analysis and literature reviews with regard to the state of New South Wales, Australia, where 90,000 health professionals, under the auspices of the Health Department, provide healthcare to a seven-million population. After enrolling many participants from various groups, the measurements included: numbers of staff trained and training quality; support for SIP; clinicians' reports of safety skills acquired, work practices changed and barriers to progress; RCAs undertaken; observation of functioning of teams; committees initiated and staff appointed to deal with adverse events; documentation and computer records of reports; and peak-level responses to adverse events. Findings - A cohort of 4 per cent of the state's health professionals has been trained and now applies safety skills and conducts RCAs. These and other senior professionals strongly support SIP, though many think further culture change is required if its benefits are to be more fully achieved and sustained. Improved information-handling systems have been adopted. Systems for reporting adverse incidents and conducting RCAs have been instituted, which are co-ordinated by NSW Health. When the appropriate structures, educational activities and systems are made available in the form of an SIP, measurable systems change might be introduced, as suggested by observations of the attitudes and behaviours of health practitioners and the increased reporting of, and action about, adverse events. Originality/value - Few studies into health systems change employ wide-ranging research methods and metrics. This study helps to fill this gap. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1108/09526860710822725	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Health Policy & Services	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Care Surveys	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Focus Groups	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Questionnaires	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Program Evaluation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude of Health Personnel	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Safety Management	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Clinical Competence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Inservice Training	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Errors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	National Health Programs	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Organizational Innovation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Interviews as Topic	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires	en_US
dc.title	Are health systems changing in support of patient safety?: A multi-methods evaluation of education, attitudes and practice	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	20	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	7	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	20	en_US

Abstract:

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a health system-wide safety improvement program (SIP) three to four years after initial implementation. Design/methodology/approach - The study employs multi-methods studies involving questionnaire surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, observational work, ethnographic studies, documentary analysis and literature reviews with regard to the state of New South Wales, Australia, where 90,000 health professionals, under the auspices of the Health Department, provide healthcare to a seven-million population. After enrolling many participants from various groups, the measurements included: numbers of staff trained and training quality; support for SIP; clinicians' reports of safety skills acquired, work practices changed and barriers to progress; RCAs undertaken; observation of functioning of teams; committees initiated and staff appointed to deal with adverse events; documentation and computer records of reports; and peak-level responses to adverse events. Findings - A cohort of 4 per cent of the state's health professionals has been trained and now applies safety skills and conducts RCAs. These and other senior professionals strongly support SIP, though many think further culture change is required if its benefits are to be more fully achieved and sustained. Improved information-handling systems have been adopted. Systems for reporting adverse incidents and conducting RCAs have been instituted, which are co-ordinated by NSW Health. When the appropriate structures, educational activities and systems are made available in the form of an SIP, measurable systems change might be introduced, as suggested by observations of the attitudes and behaviours of health practitioners and the increased reporting of, and action about, adverse events. Originality/value - Few studies into health systems change employ wide-ranging research methods and metrics. This study helps to fill this gap. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9615