Patient Participation in Patient Safety

Patient Participation in Patient Safety

Patient participation in their own care is an area of growing focus as it leads to the improvement of patient outcomes and higher satisfaction with care (Entwistle et al, 2014). Vaismoradi, Jordan, and Kangasniemi investigated patient participation in activities aimed at patient safety through a systematic review. They aimed at finding out how patients participate in patient safety initiatives from the existing research data as it was ambiguous on how the patients were involved (Vaismoradi, Jordan & Kangasniemi, 2015). The authors found that patient involvement in safety practices is enhanced by mutual acknowledgment and a patient-centered health care environment.

The authors found out that four components are essential in improving patient participation in their care which includes the patient, the nurse, the participation process and clinical environment. Engagement in safety initiatives by patients is influenced by his or her knowledge, health condition, beliefs, and experiences (Joseph-Williams, Elwyn & Edwards, 2014). The management of chronic diseases requires a great deal of involvement on the part of patients through possessing adequate knowledge. Patients have a significant role to play in their care including the participation in safety initiatives meant to protect their health (Vaismoradi, Jordan & Kangasniemi, 2015). Patients should, therefore, be well informed to engage themselves in safety activities as far as their health is concerned.

Vaismoradi, Jordan, and Kangasniemi (2015) state that “Healthcare providers may need further professional development in patient education and patient care management to promote patient involvement in patient safety, and ensure that patients understand that they are ‘allowed’ to inform nurses of adverse events or errors.” Many are times when patients disregard the warning signals by their bodies and believe the health care professionals even when something might be wrong with them (Carayon et al, 2014). Patients are likely to participate in safety activities in a healthcare environment which is patient-centered and with mutual acknowledgment of the vitality of engagement.

Reference

Carayon, P., Wetterneck, T. B., Rivera-Rodriguez, A. J., Hundt, A. S., Hoonakker, P., Holden, R., & Gurses, A. P. (2014). Human factors systems approach to healthcare quality and patient safety. Applied ergonomics, 45(1), 14-25.

Entwistle, V. A., Brown, R. C., Morgan, H. M., & Skea, Z. C. (2014). Involving patients in their care. Current Breast Cancer Reports, 6(3), 211-218.

Joseph-Williams, N., Elwyn, G., & Edwards, A. (2014). Knowledge is not power for patients: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of patient-reported barriers and facilitators to shared decision making. Patient education and counseling, 94(3), 291-309.

Vaismoradi, M., Jordan, S., & Kangasniemi, M. (2015). Patient participation in patient safety       and nursing input–a systematic review. Journal of clinical nursing, 24(5-6), 627-639.