Peter D Hibbert1,2,3, Matthew J W Thomas4, Anita Deakin3, William B Runciman1,2,3, Jeffrey Braithwaite1, Stephanie Lomax5, Jonathan Prescott5, Glenda Gorrie5, Amy Szczygielski6, Tanja Surwald6, Catherine Fraser5. 1. Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia. 2. Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia. 3. Australian Patient Safety Foundation, PO Box 2471, IPC CWE-53, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia. 4. Appleton Institute, CQ University, 44 Greenhill Rd, Wayville, SA 5034, Australia. 5. Safer Care Victoria, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. 6. Department of Health & Human Services, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the strength of root cause analysis (RCA) recommendations and their perceived levels of effectiveness and sustainability. DESIGN: All RCAs related to sentinel events (SEs) undertaken between the years 2010 and 2015 in the public health system in Victoria, Australia were analysed. The type and strength of each recommendation in the RCA reports were coded by an expert patient safety classifier using the US Department of Veteran Affairs type and strength criteria. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Thirty-six public health services. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The proportion of RCA recommendations which were classified as 'strong' (more likely to be effective and sustainable), 'medium' (possibly effective and sustainable) or 'weak' (less likely to be effective and sustainable). RESULTS: There were 227 RCAs in the period of study. In these RCAs, 1137 recommendations were made. Of these 8% were 'strong', 44% 'medium' and 48% were 'weak'. In 31 RCAs, or nearly 15%, only weak recommendations were made. In 24 (11%) RCAs five or more weak recommendations were made. In 165 (72%) RCAs no strong recommendations were made. The most frequent recommendation types were reviewing or enhancing a policy/guideline/documentation, and training and education. CONCLUSIONS: Only a small proportion of recommendations arising from RCAs in Victoria are 'strong'. This suggests that insights from the majority of RCAs are not likely to inform practice or process improvements. Suggested improvements include more human factors expertise and independence in investigations, more extensive application of existing tools that assist teams to prioritize recommendations that are likely to be effective, and greater use of observational and simulation techniques to understand the underlying systems factors. Time spent in repeatedly investigating similar incidents may be better spent aggregating and thematically analysing existing sources of information about patient safety.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the strength of root cause analysis (RCA) recommendations and their perceived levels of effectiveness and sustainability. DESIGN: All RCAs related to sentinel events (SEs) undertaken between the years 2010 and 2015 in the public health system in Victoria, Australia were analysed. The type and strength of each recommendation in the RCA reports were coded by an expert patient safety classifier using the US Department of Veteran Affairs type and strength criteria. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Thirty-six public health services. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The proportion of RCA recommendations which were classified as 'strong' (more likely to be effective and sustainable), 'medium' (possibly effective and sustainable) or 'weak' (less likely to be effective and sustainable). RESULTS: There were 227 RCAs in the period of study. In these RCAs, 1137 recommendations were made. Of these 8% were 'strong', 44% 'medium' and 48% were 'weak'. In 31 RCAs, or nearly 15%, only weak recommendations were made. In 24 (11%) RCAs five or more weak recommendations were made. In 165 (72%) RCAs no strong recommendations were made. The most frequent recommendation types were reviewing or enhancing a policy/guideline/documentation, and training and education. CONCLUSIONS: Only a small proportion of recommendations arising from RCAs in Victoria are 'strong'. This suggests that insights from the majority of RCAs are not likely to inform practice or process improvements. Suggested improvements include more human factors expertise and independence in investigations, more extensive application of existing tools that assist teams to prioritize recommendations that are likely to be effective, and greater use of observational and simulation techniques to understand the underlying systems factors. Time spent in repeatedly investigating similar incidents may be better spent aggregating and thematically analysing existing sources of information about patient safety.
Authors: Jimmy Martin-Delgado; Alba Martínez-García; Jesús María Aranaz; José L Valencia-Martín; José Joaquín Mira Journal: Med Princ Pract Date: 2020-05-15 Impact factor: 1.927