Measuring adverse events in pediatric inpatients with the Global Trigger Tool

The safety of inpatients is a priority in the health care system. The Global Trigger Tool seems to be suitable to estimate the incidence of adverse events (AE) in pediatric inpatients.

To describe the incidence and categories of AE in pediatric inpatients using the Global Trigger Tool and to identify risk factors associated to their development.

Retrospective study. Medical records of 200 patients hospitalized at Hospital Elizalde during 2013 were included. Outcome measures: number of AE/100 admissions and distribution of harm. A chi² test, Student´s t test and Pearson's correlation test were carried out. Significance level = p < 0.05.

The study detected 289 triggers (1.4/patient); 52 AEs (26 AEs/100 patients, 95% CI: 20.4-32.5). There was at least one AE every 36 patients; 7 patients had more than one AE; 45 AEs were in the E and F categories (temporary harm). Medical care triggers were associated to AEs (OR 8.1; 95% CI: 3.7-17.3, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the number of triggers and the number of AEs per patient (R= 0.46; p < 0.001). Being hospitalized in a closed unit (OR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.2-6.5; p= 0.03) and a longer hospital stay were associated to AEs (p < 0.001).

An AE frequency of 26% was identified, and most AEs resulted in temporary harm. The presence of AEs was associated to hospitalization in a closed unit, longer hospital stay, higher number of triggers and general care triggers.