Patient safety investigations: the need for interprofessional learning

Abstract

Selected findings from the qualitative aspect of an impact evaluation examining the effectiveness of a Root Cause Analysis 3-day Training Programme relating to interprofessional learning and work are reported in this paper. The study sample comprised managers, clinicians, administrators and human resource personnel (n = 38) employed at Band 6 or above, and 18 key organizational stakeholders from three National Health Service case study sites who seconded staff to the Root Cause Analysis programme. Although the study was primarily designed to assess the impact of using a blended e-learning approach to educate staff about Root Cause Analysis, participants revealed that working in interprofessional teams was a vital element of any patient-safety investigation. Interprofessional learning and inter-disciplinary collaboration was a particularly valued element of the training programme. One of the main benefits of interprofessional learning identified by participants was that it improved networking and promoted more open communication. Moreover, participants felt interprofessional learning allowed them to increase their understanding of each other's roles, leading to greater cooperation, collaboration and increased confidence. For this reason, the paper examines the extent to which the management of patient-safety-related incidents and patient-safety investigations can be improved by using an interprofessional learning format. Finally, the study will suggest that interprofessional approaches to patient-safety education should be adopted by course designers so as to encourage participants to think beyond their respective occupational silos.