Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
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Blood transfusion <strong>safety</strong> <strong>in</strong> France: develop<strong>in</strong>g tools to support <strong>patient</strong>s<br />
with <strong>patient</strong>s. The key po<strong>in</strong>t is to listen to <strong>patient</strong>s to understand whether they want to<br />
be <strong>in</strong>volved or not. Where possible, the fact that the <strong>patient</strong> wants to be <strong>in</strong>volved (or<br />
not) and/or to receive <strong>in</strong>formation (or not) should be formalized.<br />
Recommendation 3 – Develop <strong>in</strong>formation tools for <strong>patient</strong>s with <strong>patient</strong>s<br />
It is important to produce, adapt and standardize <strong>patient</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation tools with <strong>patient</strong>s’<br />
<strong>in</strong>volvement to ensure the tools can be used to the fullest extent possible. Barriers such<br />
as language, vocabulary and – last but not least – <strong>health</strong> literacy should be taken <strong>in</strong>to<br />
account. Where possible, it is recommended that the process of <strong>patient</strong> <strong>in</strong>volvement be<br />
formalized.<br />
Recommendation 4 – Educate <strong>patient</strong>s<br />
It is necessary to <strong>in</strong>form the general population on how the transfusion process works<br />
and to expla<strong>in</strong> progress made <strong>in</strong> the field as part of build<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>safety</strong> culture. The<br />
development of <strong>health</strong> education and chronic condition self-management will promote<br />
<strong>patient</strong>s’ <strong>in</strong>volvement.<br />
Recommendation 5 – Engage <strong>patient</strong>s <strong>in</strong> surveillance<br />
Participation of <strong>patient</strong>s <strong>in</strong> their own surveillance of the transfusion process, <strong>related</strong><br />
cl<strong>in</strong>ical procedures and potential undesirable side-effects of the transfusion treatment<br />
should be promoted. It is expected that this would help to reduce <strong>in</strong>cidents and <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
<strong>patient</strong>s’ confidence <strong>in</strong> their shared responsibility for their own <strong>health</strong> outcomes.<br />
Recommendation 6 – Promote <strong>patient</strong> organizations and peer groups<br />
Patient organizations could give additional voice and support to transfusion recipients<br />
and help <strong>in</strong> the process of <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>health</strong> literacy and public <strong>in</strong>formation campaigns.<br />
Health <strong>care</strong> providers should help <strong>patient</strong>s to identify these organizations.<br />
Recommendation 7 – Study <strong>patient</strong>s’ attitudes<br />
Research is needed to better understand which <strong>patient</strong>s are will<strong>in</strong>g to get <strong>in</strong>volved.<br />
This <strong>in</strong>cludes shared responsibility <strong>in</strong> the decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g process and <strong>safety</strong><br />
compliance, but also <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> donor promotion campaigns among relatives,<br />
friends and communities.<br />
A summary discussion of <strong>patient</strong> <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> blood transfusion <strong>in</strong> the Netherlands is<br />
provided <strong>in</strong> Annex 3.<br />
References<br />
1. McClelland DBL, Phillips P. Errors <strong>in</strong> blood transfusion <strong>in</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong>: survey of<br />
hospital haematology departments. British Medical Journal, 1994, 308:1205.<br />
2. Davis RE, V<strong>in</strong>cent CA, Murphy MF. Blood transfusion <strong>safety</strong>: the potential role of<br />
the <strong>patient</strong>. Transfusion Medic<strong>in</strong>e Reviews, 2011, 25(1):12–23.<br />
3. Les transformations du service public de la transfusion sangu<strong>in</strong>e. Paris, Rapport annuel<br />
de la Cour des Comptes, 2010 (http://www.ccomptes.fr/fr/CC/documents/<br />
RPA/H_transformations-service-public-transfusion-sangu<strong>in</strong>e.pdf, accessed 1 May<br />
2012).<br />
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