title: Perceived potential risk factors in child care.
abstract: This study is based on semi-structured interviews focusing on staff members' opinions about potential risk factors that could threaten patient safety. The aim was to acquire more in-depth knowledge about the causes of patient injuries. The study, which was conducted at a children's hospital, has a qualitative approach that is influenced by the critical incident technique. A total of 28 persons were interviewed. Analysis of the data resulted in five qualitatively differentiated categories of potential risk factors: a large influx of patients, a lack of professional experience, a lack of inter-professional communication and cooperation, and deficiencies related to work hours and to the physical environment. The results reflect a complex picture where the risks, as described by the informants, can either alone or in concert directly or indirectly affect the individual in the practice of his or her profession or contribute to a mistake.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Synnöve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odegård
authors.forename: Lillemor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hallberg
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards