title: Measuring errors and adverse events in health care.
abstract: In this paper, we identify 8 methods used to measure errors and adverse events in health care and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. We focus on the reliability and validity of each, as well as the ability to detect latent errors (or system errors) versus active errors and adverse events. We propose a general framework to help health care providers, researchers, and administrators choose the most appropriate methods to meet their patient safety measurement goals.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Clinical Research and Evidence Based Medicine, Division of General Medicine, and Department of Medicine at The University of Texas Houston Medical School, 77030, USA. eric.thomas@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D015982:Bias; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D013597:Systems Analysis