Visualising veterinary patient safety-A modified Delphi study.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Veterinary professionals require a precise understanding of veterinary patient safety to implement it effectively.
• Familiar concepts like non-technical skills are established, but others, such as Safety I vs. Safety II, need further clarification.
• A visual aid is presented to enhance comprehension of veterinary patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a visual representation of veterinary patient safety concepts.
• To support veterinary professionals in understanding the multifaceted nature of patient safety.
• To bridge the gap between familiar and novel safety concepts in veterinary practice.

Main Methods:

• A consensus-building approach was employed with the Veterinary Patient Safety Network.
• A visual representation of veterinary patient safety concepts was generated.
• The study involved a special interest group to achieve consensus.

Main Results:

• Consensus was readily achieved on familiar topics like non-technical skills.
• Divergent viewpoints emerged regarding Safety I vs. Safety II and the link between patient safety and quality improvement.
• Participants emphasized the need to illustrate the interconnectedness of veterinary patient safety concepts.

Conclusions:

• The study produced a visual that maps various veterinary patient safety terms.
• The visual aids veterinary professionals in connecting known concepts with emerging ones.
• Future research could benefit from broader stakeholder inclusion for enhanced relevance.