Clark, Michele, Gray, Marion, Penman, Merrolee, Thomas, Yvonne, Trevan-Hawke, Judith, Smith , Julie, and Bell, Joanna (2010) Near-misses and mistakes among new graduate occupational therapists in Australia and New Zealand. In: Proceedings of 15th World Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. p. 1599. From: 15th World Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 4 - 7 May 2010, Santiago, Chile.

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Abstract

Introduction: The examination of near-misses and mistakes that occur in occupational therapy has been a largely neglected research area. Most research regarding near-misses and mistakes comes from the fields of nursing and aviation.

Objectives: This study explores the concepts of 'near-misses' and 'mistakes', specifically in relation to occupational therapy and patient safety. It then examines new graduate occupational therapists in Australia and New Zealand in relation to any near-misses and mistakes which they have experienced. This includes work settings as well as cultural and procedural arrangements for reporting or disclosing such events.

Methods: All Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand new graduate occupational therapists who completed studies in 2007 were eligible for inclusion in this research, undertaken in 2008. The sample comprised 178 Australian and 54 Aotearoa/New Zealand new graduates who completed an online survey tool developed for the study. The study was supported by the Council of Occupational Therapists Registrations Boards (Australia and New Zealand).

Results: 17.9% of Australian and 21.4% if Aotearoa/New Zealand new graduates experienced a near-miss. Data are also presented on the incidence of mistakes that placed a client/family at risk or placed self/colleague at risk. Over 10% of new graduates in both countries witnessed a mistake by another therapist which placed a client at risk. Whilst most respondents indicated that the workplace provided a supportive culture for disclosing near-misses and mistakes (89.5%; 97.6%), a surprising number of new graduates were unaware if their workplace had event reporting procedures (44.5%; 21.4%). Some differences between work settings were noted, with hand rehabilitation, aged care and acute care settings being more prone to such incidents.

Conclusion: The study provides cutting edge information about near-misses and mistakes in the occupational therapy workforce of two countries. Although mistakes and near-misses were not particularly common, a large number of new graduate therapists are not aware of event reporting procedures in their workplace.

Item ID:	16764
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Related URLs:	Organisation
Date Deposited:	09 May 2011 00:51
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110321 Rehabilitation and Therapy (excl Physiotherapy) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920201 Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services) @ 100%
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