title: National critical incident reporting systems relevant to anaesthesia: a European survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Critical incident reporting is a key tool in the promotion of patient safety in anaesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed representatives of national incident reporting systems in six European countries, inviting information on scope and organization, and intelligence on factors determining success and failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some systems are government-run and nationally conceived; others started out as small, specialty-focused initiatives, which have since acquired a national reach. However, both national co-ordination and specialty enthusiasts seem to be necessary for an optimally functioning system. The role of reporting culture, definitional issues, and dissemination is discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We make recommendations for others intending to start new systems and speculate on the prospects for sharing patient safety lessons relevant to anaesthesia at European level.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster, UK.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Reed
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Arnal
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Frank
authors: J I
authors: JI
authors: Gomez-Arnau
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Hansen
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Lester
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: Mikkelsen
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Rhaiem
authors: P H
authors: PH
authors: Rosenberg
authors: M
authors: M
authors: St Pierre
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Schleppers
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Staender
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003718:Denmark; D005060:Europe; D005387:Finland; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D061214:Patient Safety; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: anaesthesia; clinical audit; critical incident technique; incident reporting, hospital; patient safety