Comment in:
Views of practicing physicians and the public on medical
errors.
Blendon RJ, DesRoches CM, Brodie M, Benson JM, Rosen AB, Schneider E, Altman
DE, Zapert K, Herrmann MJ, Steffenson AE.
Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health,
Boston 02115, USA.
BACKGROUND: In response to the report by the Institute of Medicine on medical
errors, national groups have recommended actions to reduce the occurrence of
preventable medical errors. What is not known is the level of support for these
proposed changes among practicing physicians and the public. METHODS: We
conducted parallel national surveys of 831 practicing physicians, who responded
to mailed questionnaires, and 1207 members of the public, who were interviewed
by telephone after selection with the use of random-digit dialing. Respondents
were asked about the causes of and solutions to the problem of preventable
medical errors and, on the basis of a clinical vignette, were asked what the
consequences of an error should be. RESULTS: Many physicians (35 percent) and
members of the public (42 percent) reported errors in their own or a family
member's care, but neither group viewed medical errors as one of the most
important problems in health care today. A majority of both groups believed that
the number of in-hospital deaths due to preventable errors is lower than that
reported by the Institute of Medicine. Physicians and the public disagreed on
many of the underlying causes of errors and on effective strategies for reducing
errors. Neither group believed that moving patients to high-volume centers would
be a very effective strategy. The public and many physicians supported the use
of sanctions against individual health professionals perceived as responsible
for serious errors. CONCLUSIONS: Though substantial proportions of the public
and practicing physicians report that they have had personal experience with
medical errors, neither group has the sense of urgency expressed by many
national organizations. To advance their agenda, national groups need to
convince physicians, in particular, that the current proposals for reducing
errors will be very effective. Copyright 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society