title: Physicians' and nurses' perceptions of patient safety risks in the emergency department.
abstract: The emergency department has been described as a high-risk area for errors. It is also known that working conditions such as a high workload and shortage off staff in the healthcare field are common factors that negatively affect patient safety. A limited amount of research has been conducted with regard to patient safety in Swedish emergency departments. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge about clinicians' perceptions of patient safety risks. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe emergency department clinicians' experiences with regard to patient safety risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 physicians and 10 registered nurses from two emergency departments. Interviews were analysed by inductive content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experiences reflect the complexities involved in the daily operation of a professional practice, and the perception of risks due to a high workload, lack of control, communication and organizational failures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results reflect a complex system in which high workload was perceived as a risk for patient safety and that, in a combination with other risks, was thought to further jeopardize patient safety. Emergency department staff should be involved in the development of patient safety procedures in order to increase knowledge regarding risk factors as well as identify strategies which can facilitate the maintenance of patient safety during periods in which the workload is high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Department of Emergency Medicine, Falun Hospital, Falun, Sweden; School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden. Electronic address: akg@du.se.
authors.forename: Ann-Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Källberg
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden; School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehrenberg
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Florin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden; Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Östergren
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden; Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
authors.forename: Katarina E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Göransson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards*; D013548:Sweden; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards
keywords: Emergency service (hospital); Error; Interviews; Patient safety; Qualitative content analysis; Risk