Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview study
Background Medical error (ME) is a serious public health problem and a leading cause of death. The reported adverse incidents in China were much less than western countries, and the research on patient safety in rural China’s primary care institutions was scarce. This study aims to identify the fact...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Quality |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/12/4/e002528.full |
| _version_ | 1797365929211854848 |
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| author | Jiming Zhu Yanhua Chen Hange Li Ziting Guo Wenbin Yang Yanrong He |
| author_facet | Jiming Zhu Yanhua Chen Hange Li Ziting Guo Wenbin Yang Yanrong He |
| author_sort | Jiming Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Medical error (ME) is a serious public health problem and a leading cause of death. The reported adverse incidents in China were much less than western countries, and the research on patient safety in rural China’s primary care institutions was scarce. This study aims to identify the factors contributing to the under-reporting of ME among general practitioners in township health centres (THCs).Methods A qualitative semi-structured interview study was conducted with 31 general practitioners working in 30 THCs across 6 provinces. Thematic analysis was conducted using a grounded theory approach.Results The understanding of ME was not unified, from only mild consequence to only almost equivalent to medical malpractice. Common coping strategies for THCs after ME occurs included concealing and punishment. None of the participants reported adverse events through the National Clinical Improvement System website since they worked in THCs. Discussions about ME always focused on physicians rather than the system.Conclusions The low reported incidence of ME could be explained by unclear concept, unawareness and blame culture. It is imperative to provide supportive environment, patient safety training and good examples of error-based improvements to rural primary care institutions so that ME could be fully discussed, and systemic factors of ME could be recognised and improved there in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:56:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88240efb1e8447f9a765c896989283ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-6641 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:56:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Quality |
| spelling | doaj.art-88240efb1e8447f9a765c896989283ef2024-01-04T22:50:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Quality2399-66412023-11-0112410.1136/bmjoq-2023-002528Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview studyJiming Zhu0Yanhua Chen1Hange Li2Ziting Guo3Wenbin Yang4Yanrong He5Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaVanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaVanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaVanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Medical Affairs, Sichuan University West China Hospital of Stomatology, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaVanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaBackground Medical error (ME) is a serious public health problem and a leading cause of death. The reported adverse incidents in China were much less than western countries, and the research on patient safety in rural China’s primary care institutions was scarce. This study aims to identify the factors contributing to the under-reporting of ME among general practitioners in township health centres (THCs).Methods A qualitative semi-structured interview study was conducted with 31 general practitioners working in 30 THCs across 6 provinces. Thematic analysis was conducted using a grounded theory approach.Results The understanding of ME was not unified, from only mild consequence to only almost equivalent to medical malpractice. Common coping strategies for THCs after ME occurs included concealing and punishment. None of the participants reported adverse events through the National Clinical Improvement System website since they worked in THCs. Discussions about ME always focused on physicians rather than the system.Conclusions The low reported incidence of ME could be explained by unclear concept, unawareness and blame culture. It is imperative to provide supportive environment, patient safety training and good examples of error-based improvements to rural primary care institutions so that ME could be fully discussed, and systemic factors of ME could be recognised and improved there in the future.https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/12/4/e002528.full |
| spellingShingle | Jiming Zhu Yanhua Chen Hange Li Ziting Guo Wenbin Yang Yanrong He Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview study BMJ Open Quality |
| title | Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview study |
| title_full | Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview study |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview study |
| title_short | Perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural China: a qualitative interview study |
| title_sort | perceptions of medical error among general practitioners in rural china a qualitative interview study |
| url | https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/12/4/e002528.full |
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