title: Ethnic minority patients not at increased risk of adverse events during hospitalisation in urban hospitals in the Netherlands: results of a prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analysed potential differences in incidence, type, nature, impact and preventability of adverse events (AEs) during hospitalisation between ethnic Dutch and ethnic minority patients, and the role of patient-related determinants. We hypothesised an increased AE incidence for ethnic minority patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study in four urban hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  763 Dutch patients and 576 ethnic minority patients aged between 45 and 75, admitted for at least one night, were included in the study. All patients completed a questionnaire on patient-related determinants (eg, language proficiency).
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence, type (eg, diagnostic AEs), impact and nature of AEs were assessed with a two-stage medical record review. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for patient and admission characteristics, and to investigate the contribution of patient-related determinants to AE risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the incidence of AEs: 11% (95% CI 9% to 14%) in Dutch patients and 10% (95% CI 7% to 12%) in ethnic minority patients. Also, there was no significant difference in the incidence of preventable AEs: 3% (95% CI 1% to 4%) in Dutch patients and 1% (95% CI 0% to 2%) in ethnic minority patients. Low language proficiency, inadequate health literacy and low educational level did not increase the risk of an AE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with Dutch patients, ethnic minority patients were not at increased risk of AEs while receiving care in Dutch hospitals. Healthcare providers seem to have responded effectively to specific patient care needs, but we do not know whether this occurred in an ad hoc or in a systematic way.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Floor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Rosse
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Essink-Bot
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stronks
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bruijne
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cordula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006761:Hospitals; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007802:Language; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY