Experiences of health professionals who conducted root cause analyses after undergoing a safety improvement programme

Braithwaite, J; Westbrook, MT; Mallock, NA; Travaglia, JF; Iedema, RA

Experiences of health professionals who conducted root cause analyses after undergoing a safety improvement programme

Braithwaite, J Westbrook, MT Mallock, NA Travaglia, JF

Iedema, RA

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Quality and Safety in Health Care, 2006, 15 (6), pp. 393 - 399
Issue Date:: 2006-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Braithwaite, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Westbrook, MT	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mallock, NA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Travaglia, JF https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7537-0466	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Iedema, RA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6792-1048	en_US
dc.date.issued	2006-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Quality and Safety in Health Care, 2006, 15 (6), pp. 393 - 399	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1475-3898	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9678
dc.description.abstract	Background: Research on root cause analysis (RCA), a pivotal component of many patient safety improvement programmes, is limited. Objective: To study a cohort of health professionals who conducted RCAs after completing the NSW Safety Improvement Program (SIP). Hypothesis: Participants in RCAs would: (1) differ in demographic profile from non-participants, (2) encounter problems conducting RCAs as a result of insufficient system support, (3) encounter more problems if they had conducted fewer RCAs and (4) have positive attitudes regarding RCA and safety. Design, setting and participants: Anonymous questionnaire survey of 252 health professionals, drawn from a larger sample, who attended 2-day SIP courses across New South Wales, Australia. Outcome measures: Demographic variables, experiences conducting RCAs, attitudes and safely skills acquired. Results: No demographic variables differentiated RCA participants from non-participants. The difficulties experienced while conducting RCAs were lack of time (75.0%), resources (45.0%) and feedback (38.3%), and difficulties with colleagues (44.5%), RCA teams (34.2%), other professions (26.9%) and management (16.7%). Respondents reported benefits from RCAs, including improved patient safety (87.9%) and communication about patient care (79.8%). SIP courses had given participants skills to conduct RCAs (92.8%) and improve their safety practices (79.6%). Benefits from the SIP were thought to justify the investment by New South Wales Health (74.6%) and committing staff resources (72.6%). Most (84.8%) of the participants wanted additional RCA training. Conclusions: RCA participants reported improved skills and commitment to safety, but greater support from the workplace and health system are necessary to maintain momentum.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Quality and Safety in Health Care	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1136/qshc.2005.017525	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Health Policy & Services	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Program Evaluation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Safety Management	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Inservice Training	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Systems Analysis	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Errors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care	en_US
dc.title	Experiences of health professionals who conducted root cause analyses after undergoing a safety improvement programme	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	15	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy	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	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	15	en_US

Abstract:

Background: Research on root cause analysis (RCA), a pivotal component of many patient safety improvement programmes, is limited. Objective: To study a cohort of health professionals who conducted RCAs after completing the NSW Safety Improvement Program (SIP). Hypothesis: Participants in RCAs would: (1) differ in demographic profile from non-participants, (2) encounter problems conducting RCAs as a result of insufficient system support, (3) encounter more problems if they had conducted fewer RCAs and (4) have positive attitudes regarding RCA and safety. Design, setting and participants: Anonymous questionnaire survey of 252 health professionals, drawn from a larger sample, who attended 2-day SIP courses across New South Wales, Australia. Outcome measures: Demographic variables, experiences conducting RCAs, attitudes and safely skills acquired. Results: No demographic variables differentiated RCA participants from non-participants. The difficulties experienced while conducting RCAs were lack of time (75.0%), resources (45.0%) and feedback (38.3%), and difficulties with colleagues (44.5%), RCA teams (34.2%), other professions (26.9%) and management (16.7%). Respondents reported benefits from RCAs, including improved patient safety (87.9%) and communication about patient care (79.8%). SIP courses had given participants skills to conduct RCAs (92.8%) and improve their safety practices (79.6%). Benefits from the SIP were thought to justify the investment by New South Wales Health (74.6%) and committing staff resources (72.6%). Most (84.8%) of the participants wanted additional RCA training. Conclusions: RCA participants reported improved skills and commitment to safety, but greater support from the workplace and health system are necessary to maintain momentum.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/9678