PurposeActive patient participation in safety pathways has demonstrated benefits in reducing preventable errors, especially in relation to hand hygiene and surgical site marking. The authors sought to examine patient participation in a range of safety-related behaviours as well as factors that influence this, such as gender, education, age and language.DesignA 20-point questionnaire was employed in a London teaching hospital to explore safety-related behaviours, particularly assessing patient’s willingness to challenge healthcare professionals and engagement in taking an active role in their own care while in hospital. Data was also collected on participant demographic details including gender, age, ethnicity, English language proficiency and education status.Results85% of the 175 patients surveyed would consider bringing a list of their medications to hospital, but only 60% would bring a list of previous surgeries. Only 45% would actively engage in the WHO Safer Surgery Checklist and over three quarters (80%) would not challenge doctors and nurses regarding hand hygiene, believing that they would cause offence. Female patients who had tertiary education, were fluent in English and less than 60 years of age were statistically more likely to feel responsible for their own safety and take an active role in safety-related behaviour while in hospital (p<0.05).ConclusionsMany patients are not engaged in safety-related behaviour and do not challenge healthcare professionals on safety issues. Older male patients who were not tertiary educated or fluent in English need to be empowered to take an active role in such behaviour. Further research is required to investigate how to achieve this.
from socioeconomically deprived areas suffer from worse physical and mental health, inequitable service provision and worse service experience, and feel greater financial and social pressures due to caring. Halton and Knowsleyin North West Englandare among the most socioeconomically deprived Local Authorities in England. Method Eight semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with previous informal carers from Halton and Knowsley (caring ended between six months and 12 years prior to interview). Interview recordings were transcribed and analysed inductively, generating themes that arose during interview. Results Informal carers face numerous challenges during caring and bereavement. Participants were unequivocal in their view that there is not only a pressure, but an expectation that family provide care for terminally ill relatives. Lack of communication from, and between formal care and healthcare professionals left carers feeling isolated and unsupported in providing home end of life care. Patient comorbidities and a system sometimes failing to take responsibility for patient care, impacted on the quality of care received and resulted in carers feeling a loss of control over their situation. Conclusions This research suggests a more flexible, accountable and better-funded community end of life care system could improve the situation for terminally ill people and informal caregivers. It is also suggested that more research into the costs of providing informal end of life care would illuminate the pressures faced at this highly pressurised time.
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