title: Human error and patient safety: interdisciplinary course.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The medical community has only recently begun to address how human error affects patient safety. In order to confront human error in medicine, there is a need to teach students who are entering the health professions how potential errors may manifest and train them to prevent or mitigate these problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective is to describe a semester-long, interdisciplinary, human error and patient safety course taught at the University of South Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six interdisciplinary groups, composed of students from five of the university's colleges, were formed. The curriculum consisted of expert lecturers, readings, case studies, and analysis of patient safety problems. Students were evaluated based on their group's work on the final project and peer evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nursing students scored the highest in each category evaluated. Physicians and medical students had the lowest evaluations in team participation and active engagement. All students rated the course highly and indicated that it enhanced their ability to work in interprofessional settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The students showed improved knowledge and substantive skill level relative to patient safety and human error concepts. Working in interdisciplinary teams gave the students a better understanding of the role each discipline can have in improving health care systems and health care delivery.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA. areidwilson@gmail.com
authors.forename: Augustine R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fabri
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolfson
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004522:Educational Status; D005431:Florida; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017145:Models, Educational; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D010379:Peer Group; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012449:Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data