Johns Hopkins investigators found that the most common reason radiation oncologists failed to use online error-reporting systems designed to improve patient safety was fear of getting into trouble and embarrassment.
For their study, investigators e-mailed an anonymous survey to physicians, nurses, radiation physicists and other radiation specialists at Johns Hopkins; North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Manhasset, N.Y.; Washington University in St. Louis; and the University of Miami in Florida with questions about reporting near-misses and errors while delivering radiotherapy.
Based on 274 returned completed surveys, only few nurses and physicians reported routinely submitting online reports, in contrast to physicists, dosimetrists and radiation therapists who reported the most use of error and near-miss reporting systems. Getting colleagues into trouble, liability and embarrassment in front of colleagues were reported most often by physicians and residents.
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For their study, investigators e-mailed an anonymous survey to physicians, nurses, radiation physicists and other radiation specialists at Johns Hopkins; North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Manhasset, N.Y.; Washington University in St. Louis; and the University of Miami in Florida with questions about reporting near-misses and errors while delivering radiotherapy.
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Based on 274 returned completed surveys, only few nurses and physicians reported routinely submitting online reports, in contrast to physicists, dosimetrists and radiation therapists who reported the most use of error and near-miss reporting systems. Getting colleagues into trouble, liability and embarrassment in front of colleagues were reported most often by physicians and residents.
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