Patient safety culture in family practice

Study of patient safety climate and the influence of the Frankfurt patient safety matrix (FraTrix) on patient safety culture in German family practices

Safety culture is primarily responsible for how we deal with errors - whether we learn from them or whether we would prefer to ignore them. Thus the way we deal with errors also determines how safely we provide healthcare for our patients.

By means of a nationwide survey, we wanted to find out more about the safety culture in German family practices. For this purpose, we surveyed 1,700 family practices in 2010 and we are currently (July 2011) analysing the responses from more than 2,100 family doctors and healthcare assistants. We are interested, not only in the present situation, but also in possibilities to influence safety culture.

In a pilot study conducted in 2008/9, we developed the self assessment tool FraTrix and tested it on family practices. Using FraTrix (Frankfurt patient safety matrix), practice team members assessed the safety culture and the ways patient safety was dealt with in their own practices and identified measures to improve patient safety. A further project has now examined the influence of FraTrix on error management and safety culture in the practice.

This project has been conducted as a randomised controlled trial since August 2009. Sixty family practices have participated and so far 57 successfully completed the study. Of these 57 practice teams, 27 worked with FraTrix and 30 were members of the study's control group.

In mid-June 2011, the conclusion of the study was celebrated with the practice teams at Frankfurt University. Team members came from 13 of the practices in order to discover more about the results. As guest of honour, Professor Dianne Parker came from Manchester and spoke about safety culture and its importance in patient healthcare. And of course she described the Manchester Patient Safety Framework on which FraTrix is based, as well as the development of this assessment tool. The family doctors and healthcare assistants were then able to play an active role themselves by discussing specific measures to increase patient safety and in particular their own experiences, successes and failures with the introduction and implementation of these measures. Examples of topics that were discussed included the handover and dissemination of information concerning incomplete tasks in the practice, and emergency management. Following the discussion, the event was rounded off with a buffet and celebratory drink.

[Impressions from the event]

Each practice received an individual report containing its results with respect to patient safety indicators and safety climate. The project team is currently working on the overall analysis of the data. As soon as results are known, the information will be published here.

Like the pilot study, the main study was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you would like to know more about the study.

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DRKS-ID der Studie: DRKS00000145, UTN-Nr.: U1111-1111-0484