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Table 2 Views on importance and implementation of patient safety interventions

From: What do primary care physicians and researchers consider the most important patient safety improvement strategies?

Facilities in the practice

% scored "very much important

for patient safety"

Percentage ">50%

present in country"

Computerised medical record system, which is adequately kept

82.3

82.7

Telephone facilitities that allow quick access to the practice, particularly for urgent health problems

70.7

82.7

Planned checks of safety of equipment, medication, and other facilities in the practice

69.0

53.8

Access to web-based clinical guidance tools in daily practice

68.0

57.6

Forms for reporting incidents available

67.9

28.3

Working agreements with pharmacists when problems arise with delivering medication e.g. alerts, interaction

67.3

46.2

Reminders and alerts regarding safety issues, which are integrated in the medical record system

61.5

43.1

Computerised decision support regarding medication safety in daily practice

60.8

44.0

Computerised decision support regarding test ordering in daily practice

47.1

13.7

Patient safety management

% scored "very much important for patient safety"

Percentage ">50% present in country"

Practice-based reporting and analysis of incidents (e.g. significant event audit)

74.5

19.2

Reporting and analysis of incidents in small educational groups (e.g. quality circles)

66.0

7.7

Measurement and feedback on safety culture in general practices

60.4

3.8

Nationwide or regional educational reporting system for incidents

57.7

11.5

Measurement and feedback on indicators for patient safety

57.7

5.7

Hygiene protocols and guidelines present

56.9

39.6

Campaigns to increase patients' and public awareness of patient safety in general practice

39.6

3.8

Periodic audits by an external inspection authority

38.5

13.5

Nationwide or regional incident reporting weeks

33.3

2.0

Surveys and other types of consultations of patients regarding safety incidents

0

3.8

Communication and collaboration

% scored "very much important for patient safety"

Percentage ">50% present in country"

Standards for record keeping (ICPC coding, electronic records)

75.0

62.3

Integrated medical records for communication with specialists and others

65.4

9.4

Structured formats for information on referral of patients

61.5

22.6

Electronic prescriptions and integrated medication overview in the records from the pharmacist

59.6

17.2

Periodic review of medication by pharmacists in patients who use dangerous (combinations of) medication

51.9

3.8

Comprehensive analysis of prescribing decisions in the pharmacy, using decision support systems

49.1

53.8

Patient-held medical records

41.2

13.2

Generic conditions for patient safety

% scored "very much important for patient safety"

Percentage ">50% present in country"

Culture and mentality which facilitates learning from incidents

73.6

9.6

Understanding of patient safety in health professionals, particularly regarding how it differs from complications of treatment

64.2

9.6

Workload is perceived as acceptable in general practice

52.9

13.5

Adequate procedures for identifying and managing burn-out in health professionals

50.9

0

Availability of information technology in general practice, and skills to use these adequately

0

34.6

Education on patient safety

% scored "very much important for patient safety"

Percentage ">50% present in country"

Education on patient safety in the vocational training of GPs

81.1

23.5

A guideline on patient safety is available

80.9

15.2

Education on patient safety in the vocational training of practice nurses

79.2

8.9

Postgraduate education on patient safety of GPs

78.7

13.7

Postgraduate education on patient safety of practice nurses

77.1

7.0

Education on patient safety in the medical curriculum, before graduation

73.6

17.3

Education on patient safety in the nursing curriculum, before graduation

72.5

13.6