Original Research

Human errors and factors that influence patient safety in the pre-hospital emergency care setting: Perspectives of South African emergency care practitioners

Mugsien Rowland, Anthonio Adefuye
Health SA Gesondheid | Vol 27 | a1798 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1798 | © 2022 Mugsien Rowland, Anthonio Adefuye | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 10 September 2021 | Published: 29 April 2022

About the author(s)

Mugsien Rowland, Department of Emergency Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Anthonio Adefuye, Department of Health Sciences Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Delivering pre-hospital emergency care has the potential to be hazardous. Despite this, little is known about the factors that precipitate human errors and influence patient safety in the pre-hospital care setting, in contrast to in-hospital care. Similarly, limited report on patient safety and human error issues in the pre-hospital emergency care setting exist in South Africa.

Aim: This study investigated the perspectives of emergency care personnel (ECP) in South Africa on the types of human errors and factors that precipitate human errors that influence patient safety in the pre-hospital emergency care setting in South Africa.

Setting: This study was conducted in the pre-hospital emergency care environment in South Africa.

Methods: This research was designed as an exploratory study that made use of a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 2,000 emergency care personnel.

Results: A response rate of 76% was obtained. According to the participants, errors relating to poor judgement, poor skill or knowledge, fatigue, and communication, and individual error are common during pre-hospital care. Inadequate equipment, environmental factors, and personal safety concerns were reported as some of the factors that influence patient safety in the pre-hospital emergency care setting.

Conclusion: Implementation of strategies that enhances education and training, clinical skill development, teamwork skills, fatigue management, and leadership skills can help prevent some of the errors identified in this study.

Contribution: This study identifies the types of human errors, and factors that precipitate human errors that influence patient safety in the pre-hospital emergency care setting in South Africa.


Keywords

emergency care practitioners; human error; patient safety; pre-hospital emergency care setting; South Africa

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Crossref Citations

1. The Effect of Prehospital Clinical Trial-Related Procedures on Scene Interval, Cognitive Load, and Error: A Randomized Simulation Study
Willem Stassen, Craig Wylie, Wesley Craig, Ismaeel Ebrahim, Scott H. Mahoney, Anthony E. Pusateri, Sanjeev Rambharose, Candice van Koningsbruggen, Richard B. Weiskopf, Lee A. Wallis
Prehospital Emergency Care  first page: 1  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1080/10903127.2023.2259998