Competence in patient safety: a multifaceted experiential educational intervention for resident physicians

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Physicians often lack formal training in patient safety.
• Addressing patient safety challenges is crucial for effective healthcare.
• Current medical training may not adequately prepare physicians for safety issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a comprehensive Patient Safety Learning Program (PSLP) for internal medicine and medicine-pediatrics residents.
• To teach residents patient safety concepts and provide practical application opportunities.
• To assess the impact of the PSLP on patient care and resident education.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal curriculum was implemented for residents.
• Residents worked in faculty expert-led teams on patient safety projects.
• Multiple assessment methods were used to evaluate the PSLP's effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Resident projects led to changes in patient care processes with potential outcome improvements.
• Faculty evaluations were lower for the patient safety rotation, citing issues with teamwork and communication.
• Attitudes toward patient safety did not change, though comfort discussing errors slightly increased.

Conclusions:

• The PSLP did not achieve its intended positive effects on resident/faculty attitudes toward patient safety.
• Lower faculty evaluations indicated challenges with resident communication and professionalism.
• Further research is necessary to develop effective interventions for resident patient safety education and cultural change.