Consumer perceptions of safety in hospitals

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality and patient safety research.
• Consumer health experience and perception studies.

Background:

• Traditional adverse event research focuses on medical perspectives, neglecting consumer confidence.
• Understanding public perception of hospital safety is crucial for identifying risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rate and severity of adverse events experienced in hospitals from a public opinion standpoint.
• To assess public perception of hospital safety and identify predictors of perceived lack of safety.

Main Methods:

• A multistage, clustered survey conducted in South Australia in 2001.
• Household interviews were used, with a weighted sample of 2,884 participants.

Main Results:

• 7.0% of reported hospital admissions were associated with adverse events.
• Over 59% of these events were rated as serious, with 48.5% leading to prolonged hospitalization.
• Experiencing serious adverse events significantly predicted a lack of perceived safety in individuals aged 40 and over.

Conclusions:

• Adverse event experiences negatively affect public confidence in hospitals.
• Consumer-reported adverse event rates (7.0%) align with medical record reviews, validating patient claims.
• Patient-reported adverse events are credible and should inform treatment and safety protocols.