Evaluating the Use of High-Reliability Principles to Increase Error Event Reporting: A Retrospective Review.

Objective: Assess the relationship between educating caregivers about high-reliability principles and reporting of potential adverse safety events.
Background: Persuading caregivers to report potential safety events is challenging. Learning high-reliability principles may help caregivers identify and report potential safety problems.
Methods: Event reports submitted by caregivers 6 months before and after high-reliability training were examined for event types, event significance, and shift when events occurred. χ Tests assessed relationships between variables.
Results: The number and type of caregiver event reports before and after training were not significantly different; however, clinical process error reports significantly decreased (χ = 9.251, P = .003). There was a significant difference in reports submitted by day and night shifts (χ = 5.942, P = .02).
Conclusions: Trends suggest staff report actual, rather than potential, events regardless of training. Further research is needed to determine what motivates caregivers to report safety concerns.