Patients' attitudes towards patient involvement in safety interventions: results of two exploratory studies.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: In recent years, patient-focused interventions have been introduced aimed at increasing patient involvement in safety-related behaviours. However, patients' attitudes towards these interventions and comfort in participating in the recommended behaviours remain largely unexplored. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patients' attitudes towards a video and leaflet aimed at encouraging patient involvement in safety-related behaviours. DESIGN: Two exploratory studies employing a within-subjects mixed-methods design. SETTING: Six hospital wards on an inner-city London teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Medical and surgical inpatients: 80 patients in study 1 (mean age 55; 69% men) and 80 patients in study 2 (mean age 52; 60% men). INTERVENTION: Patients watched the PINK patient safety video (study 1) or read the National Patient Safety Agency's 'Please Ask' about staying in hospital leaflet (study 2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceived comfort in participating in safety-related behaviours; attitudes towards the video or leaflet. RESULTS: Both video and leaflet increased patients' perceived comfort in engaging in some (but not all) safety-related behaviours (P < 0.05). In both studies, the majority of patients questioned whether the intervention could help to reduce medical errors in health care. Suggestions on how the video/leaflet could be improved mainly related to content and layout. CONCLUSION: Video and leaflet could be effective at encouraging patient involvement in some safety-related behaviours. Further in-depth research on patients' attitudes towards different educational materials is required to help inform future policies and interventions in this very important but under-researched area.

Authors: Davis, R; Sevdalis, N; Pinto, A; Darzi, A; Vincent, C

• Journal: Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 4
• Pages: e164-e176
• Publication date: 2013-12-01
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2011.00725.x
• EISSN: 1369-7625
• ISSN: 1369-6513
• Language: English
• Keywords: Aged; Middle Aged; Patient Participation; Adult; London; Adolescent; Female; Humans; Patient Education as Topic; Aged, 80 and over; Medical Errors; Attitude to Health; Patient Safety; Male; Young Adult; Data Collection