Improving Patient Safety Communication in Residency Programs by Incorporating Patient Safety Discussions Into Rounds

Engaging residents in patient safety and quality improvement initiatives is sometimes difficult. The primary goal of the current study was to develop a standardized learning experience designed to facilitate patient safety discussions during rounds.

Residents who were on inpatient rotations during a 2-month period in 2014 were exposed to patient safety discussions on rounds. Residents who were not on inpatient rotations served as a control group. Faculty received weekly text reminders with 3 questions designed to engage residents in patient safety discussions. Before and after the intervention, residents were asked to complete a modified Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Faculty members were asked to complete a brief survey designed by the study investigators.

Of the 160 residents who participated in the study, 49 responded to both the preintervention and postintervention surveys (31%). Residents who participated in patient safety discussions during rounds reported higher frequencies of safety events reported compared to the control group (P<0.05). Both groups of residents reported better communication (P<0.01) and an increased number of safety events reported (P<0.01) at the end of the intervention. Twenty-two faculty were surveyed, and 19 responded (86%). Most faculty felt incorporating patient safety discussions on rounds was constructive and that the residents were responsive. Few faculty members felt the patient safety discussions were burdensome.

Using weekly text reminders with 3 prompts to incorporate patient safety discussions into rounds was well received by faculty and residents and had an impact on communication and error reporting.