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The Canadian adverse events study

From the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Address correspondence to: Dr. Ross Baker, University of Toronto, Room 2031, McMurrich Building, 12 Queens Park Crescent West, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada. Phone: 416-978-7804; Fax: 416-978-7350; E-mail: ross.baker{at}utoronto.ca

THE Canadian adverse events study published this spring provides the first estimate of the incidence of adverse events in Canadian hospitals. The methods are based on the earlier Harvard Medical Practice Study, which has also been replicated in Australia, New Zealand, England and Denmark.

This presentation will

1. Outline the nature of the study and results
   
2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of chart review methods used in this study for examining adverse events
   
3. Identify additional research needed and the ways in which Canadian healthcare organizations and healthcare policy makers need to use this information to improve patient care
   

Based on this presentation, participants

1. Will be able to identify the important findings of the Canadian adverse events study
   
2. Explain why these results are important for healthcare organizations
   
3. Identify some of the strengths and weaknesses of this study
   

Selected references

National Steering Committee on Patient Safety. (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada). Building a safer system: a national integrated strategy for improving patient safety in Canadian health care. 2002, September 28.

Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS. To err is human: building a safer health system. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1999.

Brennan TA, Leape LL, Laird NM, et al. Incidence of adverse events and negligence in hospitalized patients: results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study I. N Engl J Med 1991; 324: 370–7.[Abstract]

Thomas EJ, Petersen LA. Measuring errors and adverse events in health care. J Gen Intern Med 2003; 18: 61–7.[Medline]

Wilson RM, Runciman WB, Gibberd RW, Harrison BT, Newby L, Hamilton JD. The quality in Australia health care Study. Med J Aust 1995; 163: 458–76.[Medline]

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