A Boston-based study found pediatric patients' parents often detect medical errors their children's physicians missed, according to Las Vegas Review Journal.
Researchers analyzed data on 383 pediatric patients hospitalized in 2013 and 2014. Parents completed written surveys about safety incidents their child experienced when hospitalized.
Here are five notes:
1. Of the parents surveyed, 8.9 percent reported 37 safety incidents.
2. Upon reviewing the incidents, researchers found 62 percent were medical mistakes and 24 percent entailed other quality issues. Fourteen percent of causes were neither mistakes nor quality issues.
3. Of the cases deemed medical mistakes, researchers found 30 percent of the cases caused harm and were preventable. Medical errors included finding a foreign body after a procedure.
4. Many parents detailed incidents where communication issues caused various errors, such as staff failing to note a medication change.
5. The study's small size inhibits researchers from making broad conclusions on error rates and safety, although it does encourage parents to speak up when they notice an error.
More articles on quality & infection control:
American Pain Society updates postoperative pain guidelines: 5 things to know
The fight is not over for Ebola survivors — 4 observations
Agree to disagree? Physicians and Prevention Quality Indicator at odds on preventable admissions — 7 insights
