Critical incident reporting in UK intensive care units: a postal survey.
OBJECTIVE
To review critical incident reporting in UK intensive care units (ICUs).


METHODS
We conducted a postal survey of clinical directors of UK ICUs to ask if critical incident reporting was used in their ICU. Using a structured questionnaire, we also asked for details of critical incident reporting systems and for changes introduced as a result of incident reporting.


CONCLUSIONS
Eighty-six of a total of 256 questionnaires were returned. Sixty-one units had been using a critical incident reporting system for a median duration of 3 years (interquartile range 2-5 years). There were wide variations in the structures of reporting systems between units. A median of four (interquartile range 3-8) critical incidents were reported per unit per month. In 141 changes, the development of protocols and guidelines (18) and changes in drug prescription and checking (20) were most common. A more consistent approach to reporting could improve patient care and 65 responders felt that a national reporting system was potentially useful.
Thomas
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AN
Intensive Care Medicine, Intensive Care Unit, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK. tony.thomas@srht.nhs.uk
Pilkington
C E
CE
Greer
R
R
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019300:Medical Errors; D011177:Postal Service; D012308:Risk Management; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom