Patient safety incidents reported by relatives of hospitalized children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare Quality
• Patient Safety Research
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Hospitalized children are vulnerable to various safety incidents.
• Family members are key observers of patient care and potential safety breaches.
• Understanding relatives' perspectives is vital for enhancing pediatric patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize safety incidents reported by relatives of pediatric patients.
• To explore the scope of safety concerns from the family's viewpoint in pediatric units.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study design.
• Semi-structured interviews with 91 relatives of pediatric patients across three hospitals.
• Thematic content analysis of transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• Relatives identified safety incidents across eight key areas: drug therapy, hygiene, diet therapy, falls, communication, patient identification, care processes, and institutional access.
• Drug therapy and hand/environment hygiene were prominent concerns.
• Communication and patient identification were also frequently cited areas of concern.

Conclusions:

• Families are crucial in identifying safety incidents throughout pediatric hospitalization.
• Developing strategies to integrate families into the care process is essential.
• Family involvement can help mitigate risks and reduce complications in pediatric care.