title: Preanalytical errors: a preliminary approach to the point of view of primary health care givers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of errors in the preanalytical phase is a widely studied topic. However, information regarding the perspective of those professionals involved is rather scant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two focus groups of professionals from Primary Care involved in the preanalytical phase (general practitioners [GP], community nurses [CN], and other auxiliary health workers, including administrative personnel [AHW]) were convened. A qualitative analysis with a phenomenological approach was performed by using the structure of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis as a guide, and results were categorized by grouping the resultant dimensions according to this structure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 12 professionals (3 GP, 6 CN, and 3 AHW) were distributed in two groups. Age and gender distribution were similar between groups. The most commented strengths were organizational capability and teamwork. The main weakness was the workload increase (compared to the short time spent on sample collection). Opportunities were related to workload optimization through on-line analytical requests. Threats were related to the long time elapsed between sample drawing at Primary Care and delivery to the Central Laboratory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenomenological approach allows revealing those aspects that cannot be entirely elucidated by objective data measurement. Attitudes considered as positive can be exploited by the institution, whereas those considered as negative alert us to possible future problems. Primary Care professionals offered a different point of view to laboratory staff, but both recognized high workload as the main threat and on-line analytical request as the best opportunity. These perspectives may help to improve detection and decrease the number of errors.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez-Salgado
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Isabel S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Caparrós
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Frutos
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*