A cross-national comparison of incident reporting systems implemented in German and Swiss hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to empirically compare incident reporting systems (IRS) in two European countries and to explore the relationship of IRS characteristics with context factors such as hospital characteristics and characteristics of clinical risk management (CRM).


METHODS
We performed exploratory, secondary analyses of data on characteristics of IRS from nationwide surveys of CRM practices.


METHODS
The survey was originally sent to 2136 hospitals in Germany and Switzerland.


METHODS
Persons responsible for CRM in 622 hospitals completed the survey (response rate 29%).


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Differences between IRS in German and Swiss hospitals were assessed using Chi2, Fisher's Exact and Freeman-Halton-Tests, as appropriate. To explore interrelations between IRS characteristics and context factors (i.e. hospital and CRM characteristics) we computed Cramer's V.


RESULTS
Comparing participating hospitals across countries, Swiss hospitals had implemented IRS earlier, more frequently and more often provided introductory IRS training systematically. German hospitals had more frequently systematically implemented standardized procedures for event analyses. IRS characteristics were significantly associated with hospital characteristics such as hospital type as well as with CRM characteristics such as existence of strategic CRM objectives and of a dedicated position for central CRM coordination.


CONCLUSIONS
This study contributes to an improved understanding of differences in the way IRS are set up in two European countries and explores related context factors. This opens up new possibilities for empirically informed, strategic interventions to further improve dissemination of IRS and thus support hospitals in their efforts to move patient safety forward.
Institute for Patient Safety, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Tanja
T
Manser
School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland.
Michael
M
Imhof
Independent Scholar, Berlin, Germany.
Constanze
C
Lessing
School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland.|Lucerne School of Business, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Matthias
M
Briner
D005858:Germany; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000379:methods; D006761:Hospitals; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland
clinical risk management; incident reporting and analysis; patient safety; risk management; strategic risk management