title: A review of patient safety in women's healthcare: why has our progress been so slow?
abstract: The rate of improvement in patient safety is slow. The goal of this review is to address the results of a survey of Ob-Gyn physicians regarding important patient safety issues. A sample of 600 obstetricians and gynecologists were sent a survey asking them about their beliefs, activities, problems, and source of information regarding patient safety with a response rate of 53.2%. Results about beliefs and patient safety activities have been reported [Stumpf et al., 2009]. Misdiagnosis (95.6%), failure to follow-up with patients (94.9%), and administration of the wrong medication or dosage of a medication (90.5%) were the most often reported patient safety problems. Obstetricians and gynecologists most often use printed materials, CMEs, journals, and practice guidelines for information regarding patient safety. Ob-Gyns prefer to learn new patient safety information using printed materials and post graduate classes rather than materials on compact disk or online webcasts. A majority of respondents recognize patient safety as an important issue. Education about the importance of patient safety may be a less pertinent topic when compared to the need for education about implementing specific tools for patient safety and moving from awareness to action.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. pgstumpf@medicine.nevada.edu
authors: Paul G
authors: PG
authors: Stumpf
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Stumpf
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Anderson
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Schulkin
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics; D061214:Patient Safety