International Journal for Quality in Health Care Advance Access originally published online on December 23, 2007
International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2008 20(2):115-122; doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzm067
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Perceptions of preventable medical errors in Alberta, Canada
1 Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2 Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3 Population Research Laboratory, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
4 Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
5 Health Quality Council of Alberta, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
6 Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Objectives. (i) To compare public perceptions of the frequency, responsibility, causes and solutions for preventable medical errors for persons who report and do not report having experienced a preventable medical error while receiving healthcare services in Alberta, Canada. (ii) To describe public opinion about confidentiality and disclosure of preventable medical error. (iii) To examine the relationship between reporting preventable medical error and perceived quality of the healthcare system.
Methods. Population-based telephone survey. Households selected by random digit dialing and individual in household selected by most recent birthday. Province of Alberta, Canada. Representative sample of adult Albertans (N = 1500). Public perceptions of the frequency, responsibility, causes and solutions for preventable medical error; opinions about confidentiality and disclosure; perceived quality of the healthcare system.
Results. Five hundred and fifty-nine (37.3%; 95% CI 34.8–39.8%) of 1500 respondents reported that they or a family member had ever experienced a preventable medical error while receiving health care in Alberta, Canada. Respondents who reported a preventable medical error were more likely to believe that preventable medical errors occur with greater frequency, were less likely to think that their doctor would tell them if a preventable medical error was made in their care, and tended to rate the quality of the healthcare system less favourably.
Conclusion. This paper provides healthcare managers and policymakers with insight into the public's perceptions of preventable medical error and may facilitate the development of strategies to improve patient safety, public confidence and public satisfaction with the healthcare system.
Keywords: health service quality, medical errors, patient safety, public satisfaction
Address reprint requests to: Herbert Northcott, Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2HF. Tel: +780 492-0479; Fax: +780 492-7196; E-mail: herb.northcott{at}ualberta.ca
Accepted for publication November 11, 2007.