Differences in medical error risk among nurses working two- and three-shift systems at teaching hospitals: a six-month prospective study.
Shift work, including night work, has been regarded as a risk factor for medical safety. However, few studies have investigated the difference in medical error risk between two- and three-shift systems. A total of 1,506 registered nurses working shifts at teaching hospitals participated in this study to evaluate the difference in medical error risk between two- and three-shift systems. After adjustment for potential confounding factors using a log Poisson generalized estimating equation model, the results showed significantly higher frequencies of perceived adverse events over 6 months in the three-shift than in the two-shift system, with estimated mean numbers of adverse events of 1.05 and 0.74, respectively. Shorter intervals after night shifts and greater frequency of night shifts in three-shift systems, which reduce the recovery time from night shift work, may be linked to increased medical errors by nurses.
Tanaka
Katsutoshi
K
Department of Occupational Mental Health, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 228-8555, Japan. ka-tnk@nifty.com
Takahashi
Masaya
M
Hiro
Hisanori
H
Kakinuma
Mitsuru
M
Tanaka
Mika
M
Kamata
Naoki
N
Miyaoka
Hitoshi
H
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance