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Journal of Public Health

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01-02-2013 | Original Article

Categories of errors and error frequencies as identified by nurses: results of a cross-sectional study in German nursing homes and hospitals

Authors: Monika Habermann, Ronja Foraita, Henning Cramer

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

Aim

Knowledge about nurses’ error perception is crucial for establishing a sustainable risk management. This paper presents categories and frequencies of errors as identified by nurses. The cross-sectional study results provide further knowledge for professional and organizational development.

Subject and methods

Data from 1,100 German nurses working in 30 hospitals and 46 nursing homes were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. This paper firstly presents results from a content analysis of nurses’ descriptions of errors and, secondly, results on frequencies of predefined nursing errors (closed-ended, ordinal frequency estimation). Thirdly, it compares the answers of hospital nurses with those of nurses employed in nursing homes and finally it compares answers of participant groups defined by sex or migration background.

Results

In the open-ended section, errors described by 60.5 % of the participants concerned medical diagnosis/therapy. 20.7 % had experienced errors in hands-on care, while errors in communication with patients were noted by 3.7 %. In contrast, when offering predefined activities in the questionnaire’s closed-ended part, indicated frequencies of errors stressed issues of hands-on care and documentation. Significant differences exist between participants from both settings regarding direct care and relationship building. Sex and migration background were related to frequency estimations.

Conclusions

Findings point to shortened professional perspectives in the debates on risk and safety. This might lower nurses’ compliance in risk management systems. The influence of health professionals’ sex and migration background on their error perception needs further exploration. Field specific approaches for error prevention are needed.

The external institute was included into the preparation of this article in person of Ronja Foraita.

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Title: Categories of errors and error frequencies as identified by nurses: results of a cross-sectional study in German nursing homes and hospitals
Authors: Monika Habermann
Ronja Foraita
Henning Cramer
Publication date: 01-02-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-012-0531-x

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Categories of errors and error frequencies as identified by nurses: results of a cross-sectional study in German nursing homes and hospitals

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusions

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