Errors and the burden of errors: attitudes, perceptions, and the culture of safety in pediatric cardiac surgical teams.
BACKGROUND
The fear of committing clinical errors in perioperative care has a negative impact on the psychological well-being of surgical team members and ultimately on patient care. We assessed the perceptions and attitudes of surgical teams relative to committing errors, the impact of errors, and the culture of safety.


METHODS
Pediatric cardiac surgery team members at three academic hospitals were surveyed. The survey included scaled, open-ended questions and a clinical vignette. Respondents were asked about the safety climate, team climate, stress recognition, and the impact of error as they relate to making and the anticipation of making clinical errors.


RESULTS
The response rate was 69%. Safety attitudes were influenced by the work environment climate. Many respondents felt unable to express disagreement and had difficulty raising safety concerns. Staffing levels, equipment availability, production pressures, and hectic schedules were concerns. Respondents admitted that errors occurred repeatedly, and that guidelines and policies were often disregarded.


CONCLUSIONS
A psychometrically sound teamwork culture tool was used and demonstrated that surgical teams are influenced by the recognition of medical errors and that these errors carry significant personal burden. The findings suggest that the safety attitudes among team members may impact their performance and need to be carefully taken into consideration. Providers' reluctance to share safety events with others, as well as the perceived powerlessness to prevent events, must be addressed as part of an overall strategy to improve patient care outcomes. The study points to the need to address teamwork culture in efforts to improve patient care.
Bognár
Agnes
A
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Barach
Paul
P
Johnson
Julie K
JK
Duncan
Robert C
RC
Birnbach
David
D
Woods
Donna
D
Holl
Jane L
JL
Bacha
Emile A
EA
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D017751:Safety Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management; D016896:Treatment Outcome