Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Patient safety involves not only medical institutions and medical workers but also patients. Much research has been done to promote patient involvement in patient safety recently. But very little is known of this area in China.
Objectives: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and actions of patients toward patient safety and to provide evidence on how to promote patient safety in China.
Methods: A questionnaire was developed on patient safety and distributed to patients by a group of volunteer medical students. SPSS and MS Excel were used to analyze the data.
Results: The volunteer medical students distributed 350 questionnaires at random to patients, of which 326 were completed with some items left blank. The sample of patients had a mean age of 38.8, 42.2% were male and 57.8% were female, and over 88% had completed less than undergraduate education. About 80% of patients had health insurance. Most patients thought that effectiveness of the treatment was their biggest worry during the medical process, while only 16% of patients worried about the adverse effect of the treatment. Of the patient respondents, 66% do not understand the concept of a medical error, 68% do not know the adverse effect of their drugs, and 68% do not know the possibility of infection in hospital. However, 88% of patients know that medical staff should wash their hands before doing examinations and 90% of patients would remind the medical staff if they find something unhygienic. If they or their family members were victims of a medical error, 73% of patients would take legal action.
Conclusions: Patient safety information needs to be disseminated among patients. Most patients trust doctors and do not care about their safety on their own initiative. However, most patients show enthusiasm to protect themselves when medical error happens.
Objectives: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and actions of patients toward patient safety and to provide evidence on how to promote patient safety in China.
Methods: A questionnaire was developed on patient safety and distributed to patients by a group of volunteer medical students. SPSS and MS Excel were used to analyze the data.
Results: The volunteer medical students distributed 350 questionnaires at random to patients, of which 326 were completed with some items left blank. The sample of patients had a mean age of 38.8, 42.2% were male and 57.8% were female, and over 88% had completed less than undergraduate education. About 80% of patients had health insurance. Most patients thought that effectiveness of the treatment was their biggest worry during the medical process, while only 16% of patients worried about the adverse effect of the treatment. Of the patient respondents, 66% do not understand the concept of a medical error, 68% do not know the adverse effect of their drugs, and 68% do not know the possibility of infection in hospital. However, 88% of patients know that medical staff should wash their hands before doing examinations and 90% of patients would remind the medical staff if they find something unhygienic. If they or their family members were victims of a medical error, 73% of patients would take legal action.
Conclusions: Patient safety information needs to be disseminated among patients. Most patients trust doctors and do not care about their safety on their own initiative. However, most patients show enthusiasm to protect themselves when medical error happens.