title: Use of Techno-Anthropologic Approaches in Studying Technology--induced Errors.
abstract: In this book chapter the authors review several Techno-Anthropologic approaches that can be used to improve the quality and safety of health information technology (HIT) by eliminating or reducing the incidence and occurrence of technology-induced errors. Technology-induced errors arise from interactions between health professionals, patients and/or HIT (i.e., software and hardware) and lead to a medical error. Techno-Anthropologic methods can be used to address these types of medical errors before they occur. In this book chapter they are discussed in the context of: (a) how they can be applied to identifying technology-induced errors and (b) how this information can be used to design and implement safer HIT. Important in this chapter is a review of several methods: traditional ethnography, rapid assessment of clinical information systems, video ethnography and photovoice as they are applied to the discovery of potential (i.e., near misses) and actual (i.e., mistakes) technology-induced errors.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Borycki
authors.affiliation: School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Andre W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kushniruk
mesh_terms: D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D017751:Safety Management; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical