[Methodical reflections on epidemiological methods to measure adverse medical device events]

Drugs and medical devices are common remedies in patient care. Concerning patient safety, much research has been undertaken to study medication-related events, such as adverse drug events or medication errors; however, only little is known about device-related events and patient safety. Until now, only one survey on the epidemiology of adverse medical device events has been published. Estimates amount to 8.4 adverse medical device events/100 hospitalizations. As this indicates, further research is needed on epidemiological methodology to investigate the frequency, distribution, causes and results of medical device-related events. Only profound knowledge will constitute a resilient base for the development of safety strategies which can be then implemented and evaluated. Also in the German health care system, the special challenges described for data collection have to be mastered.